Shalom Mishpocah,

        July is here!  Why does this month, nestled comfortably in the middle of the year, attract so much attention and festivity? July has a unique blend of searing heat, patriotic fervor, and a dash of ancient Roman legacy, July offers more than just a mid-year break. It's a celebration of summer's peak [EC1] with a long list of reasons to enjoy the outdoors.

July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honor of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before then it was called Quintilis, being the fifth month of the calendar that started with March. July on average is the warmest month in most of the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the second month of summer!

It’s common in our culture to call these July summer days the "lazy days of summer," and now, there's evidence to back this up, it's a real thing. Psychologists say it's a biological phenomenon! Studies show that when it's nice outside, our thoughts tend to focus more on what we'd rather be doing instead of the task at hand. We tend to get a little lazy regarding work and daydream of vacations, the beach, or just about anything outside!

        The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (M.J.A.A) annual “Messiah Conference” begins Sunday June 28th through Saturday, July 4th, 2026, at Messiah College in Grantham PA.

        Saturday, July 4, 2026, marks the Semiquincentennial of the United States, celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 250th anniversary commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the United States began its journey as a sovereign nation. This milestone offers Americans a chance to reflect on the nation’s founding values, pivotal historical moments, and contributions from diverse communities across the country. Historic Reenactments and Exhibitions include events at Colonial Williamsburg, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C., including a special 250th anniversary exhibition.

The 4th of July Independence Day holiday has become a time associated with fireworks, picnics, and a long weekend yet few know what this day is truly about.  The Continental Congress comprised of 56 representatives from the 13 Colonies met under duress to discuss their current moral and ethical situation in the Americas. They were suffering grievances, injustice, and wickedness from their own Government.  Those 56 representatives were Godly, righteous, upright men who knew the Holy Scriptures very well, most of them had intimate relationships with God.
 
The 4th of July holiday commemorates the initiative, the drive, the boldness, and the character of those founding fathers. Suffering grave infringements upon their liberty, freedom, happiness, and prosperity these righteous men composed and wrote a letter of grievances to the King of England explaining their heart and what their issues were because the very foundation of their beliefs and livelihood were being revoked and attacked.
 
Psalms 11:3. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
 
What do the righteous do?  They take action! Here is what they wrote 250
 years ago and signed in unity on the 4th of July 1776:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
 
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
 
America is not a perfect nation, in fact we are rife with issues, but our founding documents remain as truthful, powerful, and liberating today as they were then! As you celebrate the 250th anniversary of 4th of July this year let us remember what this day truly represents!

Abba Father, as we commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we pause in gratitude. I thank You for sustaining this nation through triumphs and trials. Forgive us where we have fallen short. Heal our divisions. Strengthen our families. Guide our leaders with wisdom and humility. Let justice and mercy flourish together. May America walk in integrity, compassion, and reverence for You. May America once again serve You in Spirit and Truth! We entrust the future of this nation into Your hands, in Yeshua’s name I pray, Amen.

Blessings and Shalom,

Rabbi & Rebbetzin Carlson

The Book of Romans is considered to be one of Sha’ul’s greatest letters (and his longest epistle-letter)! In Romans Sha’ul outlines a profound, prophetic Messianic Kingdom for the entire body of Messiah as well as responding to practical matters of the day-to-day routines of the growing Messianic Community in Rome. The book of Romans is considered Sha’ul’s Magnum Opus, His greatest work! Romans can be dated with confidence to the winter of 56-57 C.E. at the end of Sha’ul’s third journey, possibly from Corinth as he was on his way to deliver funds collected from the congregations in Asia minor to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem (Romans Chapter 15):
 
Unlike the other Messianic Congregations Sha’ul planted in the provinces, the Roman congregations seem to have begun independently from the emissaries (including Sha’ul). These congregations were most likely started by Jewish believers in Rome who came to know Yeshua during the Acts 2, Shavuot outpouring back in Jerusalem.  The Roman historian Suetonius and Acts 18:1-2 both reveal that there were disturbances, conflicts, issues between Jews and Gentiles in Rome over the proclamation of Yeshua as the Messiah:
 
Acts 18:1-2. After this, Sha'ul left Athens and went to Corinth, 2 where he met a Jewish man named Aquila, originally from Pontus but having recently come with his wife Priscilla from Italy, because Claudius had issued a decree expelling all the Jews from Rome. Sha'ul went to see them;
 
In 49 C.E. the Emperor Claudius expelled all the Jewish leaders, making no distinction between those who were messianic and those who were not thus Pricilla and Aquilla, Messianic Jews came from Rome to Corinth where they were greeted by Sha’ul. By the time these Jewish leaders returned to Rome from expulsion some 10 years later the Gentile, non-biblical component of these Messianic Congregations had grown substantially. Sha’ul’s letter “Romans” was written to divest those Congregations from the Roman cultural influences, rituals, and Greco/Roman practices they had been infected with and bring them back to its first Century Messianic, biblical based foundation.
 
Sha’ul wrote his letter to the “Romans” 300 years before the New Testament is codified! There is no church or Christian community when Sha’ul writes this letter! In fact, the first gospel, Mark was written in 64 A.D., Five years after Sha’ul wrote Romans! The book of Romans gives us profound insight into the early Messianic Community and how they dealt with the same growing tensions we deal with today between Jewish and Gentile believers, between the growing Messianic Community and the larger, non-believing Jewish Community, and between believers and the general American secular society.

Unlike his contemporary Emissaries, Sha’ul was an egalitarian, believing in the principle that all people are created equal, deserve equal rights with equal opportunities. In the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew was critical of King Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. Who put Herod on the throne? Rome appointed Herod to the throne! Sha’ul isn’t so hostile towards Rome, in fact he is government friendly! He states in:
 
Romans 13:1. Everyone is to obey the governing authorities. For there is no authority that is not from God, and the existing authorities have been placed where they are by God.

Sha’ul was born in Tarsus in the Roman Empire (Modern Day South Central Turkey). He was born a Jew and a Roman citizen! He understood the class system of both his worlds! Roman society was broken down into four basic classes. Patricians were the elite minority, at top of the pyramid! They were wealthy landowners! They were the leading, governing class made up of Consels (Lawyers), Senators, and Praetors (Judges). They were the descendants of the “founding Fathers” They could veto laws! Below them were the Plebeians who were a lower class, ordinary citizens! They paid taxes and were commonly merchants or shop owners! Plebians could not lead in Government. Below them were “Freedman”. They were former slaves who bought their freedom. They could have jobs, tradesman, craftsman, shop owners[EC1] , and traders. They had little rights but could own small shops and farms. Women for the most part had zero rights in all the above. Below all the classes and the largest group were slaves who had no rights and were the laborers for everything; servants, farming, mining, construction, prostitutes, public projects such as roads and the Colosseum were built by slaves. It would take decades, but they could possibly buy their freedom! This is the culture Sha’ul was raised in!
 
This same culture was also in Jerusalem, in Judea as King Herod was Rome’s appointee. He was sympathetic to the culture, living like a Roman! The Romans kept themselves separated from the Jews who were considered inferior. The Judeans themselves believed the Gentiles were inferior to them while the Priests and ruling sects (Pharisees and Sadducees) believe themselves to be superior to the ordinary Judean. Even America has a class system, the Elite ruling class (those who get invited to and meet in the secretive meetings attempting to reset the world and govern a one new world order in Davos, Switzerland, the Bohemian Club in Bohemian Grove, California, and the Aspen “ESG” (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Summit) in Aspen Colorado! Then we have the upper middle class, the middle class, the working class, the working poor, then the poverty level, held captive by government public housing and welfare! As King Solomon stated there is nothing new under the sun! Sha’ul spoke to these factions and divisions in:
 
Galatians 2:11-13. Furthermore, when Kefa came to Antioch, I opposed him publicly, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 For prior to the arrival of certain people from [the community headed by] Ya'akov, he had been eating with the Gentile believers; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he was afraid of the faction who favored circumcising Gentile believers. 13 And the other Jewish believers became hypocrites along with him, so that even Bar-Nabba was led astray by their hypocrisy.
 
Sha’ul was directly confronting Kefa, Peter for his Hypocrisy and actions regarding the Gentiles! Kefa is the one whom Adonai spoke to in Acts 10-11 through an open vision, to stop treating Gentiles as Treif (Yiddish for not kosher). Adonai’s visions of the sheet and unclean animals to Kefa was not a heavenly directive to eat unkosher animals. Kefa understood what was being prophetically communicated to him in this vision in:
 
Acts 10:34-35. “Then Kefa addressed them: I now understand that God does not play favorites, 35 but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people he belongs to.
 
Kefa, who was given this divine revelation, who made this very profound statement is now separating himself from the Gentiles in Antioch over peer pressure even though the Lord specifically gave him a vision to NOT DO THIS! We don’t often think about or talk about the issues and errors that happened 2,000 years ago! We tend to put the Talmidim upon pedestals which we shouldn’t! The early Talmidim, Disciples were human flesh, imperfect, and made mistakes and errors just like we do! There is only one perfect one and His name is Yeshua Who brought us a New Covenant. A Messianic Kingdom paid for with His blood as defined in:
 
Jeremiah 31:30-34. "Here, the days are coming," says ADONAI, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra'el and with the house of Y'hudah. 31 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them," says ADONAI. 32 "For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra'el after those days," says ADONAI: "I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know ADONAI'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more."
 
Here is a very profound, critical revelation! The covenant of Adonai DID NOT CHANGE! How it is implemented changed! New in Hebrew is Hadas; Something renewed, made fresh, something not seen or done before. Through the blood of Yeshua, Adonai’s Torah would now be written on our hearts! We no longer need repetitive animal sacrifices. Yeshua’s bloody sacrifice was a once and for all, the ultimate sacrifice! The covenant didn’t change, anyone seeking to be reconciled to Adonai requires a blood sacrifice-Yeshua! Through Him we won’t be taught to know Adonai, all will know Him through intimate relationship!! This was Job’s revelation after Adonai spoke to him at the end of his affliction, Job said: “I had heard about you with my ears, but now my eye sees you.” Sha’ul knew this very well, the covenant has not changed, did not change, and is still valid for us today! Listen to how Sha’ul the egalitarian unpacks this understanding:
 
Romans 2:13-15. (TLV) For it is not the hearers of Torah who are righteous before God; rather, it is the doers of Torah who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature the things of the Torah, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the Torah. 15 They show that the work of the Torah is written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts switching between accusing or defending them.
 
It’s the doers of what Torah says who will are made righteous in Gods sight, not just those who hear it! What, then, is the goal of Torah? Torah is God’s roadmap of His covenant with us revealing how one is reconciled unto to Him, how one is sanctified, how to approach Him, how to have an intimate relationship with Him. Torah’s aim is for every individual to be reconciled unto Adonai.  The error in both Christendom and Judaism is the false belief that reconciliation to God can be obtained through legalism, rituals, hyper grace, hyper love, or religion. There must be blood for sin atonement, the author of Hebrews stated:
 
Hebrews 9:22. In fact, according to the Torah, almost everything is purified with blood; indeed, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
 
Your life, your character, your conduct, your behavior, your actions, your deeds, your works should reveal that Torah is written on your heart! Not just the hearers of Torah but the doers of Torah! The author of this new covenant is the living Torah, Yeshua Ben Elohim, fully divine and yet also Human who brought life and power to the word of God! The word is no longer just spoken, it’s alive through Yeshua who is in you, therefore the word is written upon your heart! When Yeshua is in you, there is a radical transformation, within you, upon your heart is written the word of Adonai! Your heart is circumcised, “mul” in Hebrew, to cut off, your old, hardened heart is cut, circumcised, which is a sign of the covenant!! Here is the key, it’s the same for both Jew and Gentile!
 
This is what Paul was writing about, he’s addressing the division, the separation, between the Jews and Gentiles and non-kingdom like attributes in these Roman Congregations. Hard to grasp this was 2,000 years ago yet we deal with the exact same struggles today. We are told in:
 
Numbers 15:15-16. For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'"
 
This always stirs up a lot of controversy, both in Christendom and in the Messianic movement. So many Jews and Gentiles say the tenants of Torah are only for the Jewish people, yet the words of Adonai stand in truth before us. We are all born with free will, it’s a choice! One doesn’t have to do anything! Here at Congregation Zion’s Sake we do not distinguish between Jew or Gentile, Man or Woman, race or culture. We are a community who rallies around the whole word of God, one word, one Messiah, one Holy Spirit! They apply to all, equally! Adonai gave this revelation, this prophetic understanding of one law for all as it was a mixed crowd who had departed from Slavery in Egypt, a mixed crowd like the congregations in Rome, a mixed crowd like we have here! The One New Humanity of Ephesians 2! It was a mixed crowd that was present at the base of Mt. Sinai receiving these very words!
 
Exodus 12:38. A mixed crowd (Vegam-erev: mixture, mixed people, mixed company, interwoven as something knitted together) also went up with them, as well as livestock in large numbers, both flocks and herds.

This does not describe a diverse group of individuals standing in line at DMV, or Wal Mart, or at a Sporting event. Exodus 12:38 describes a mixed group of people who are woven together, intertwined, knitted together as one, Jew and Gentile in unity. People in relationship with each other! But it didn’t stay this way! Man’s corrupted flesh got involved and bit by bit separation, division, and classes were established! By the second Temple period we see a plethora of various divisions, The Courtyard of men, The Priests Courtyard, The Courtyard of the Gentiles, the Courtyard of the Women, all divided by walls of separation, none of which is ordained by God! Adonai did not give any instruction to build walls of separation. Man had constructed a class system in Gods house that He did not command. He sent His own Son Yeshua to tear down the Mechitzah, the walls of separation restoring truth, equality, and unity as a Messianic Kingdom! Sha’ul understood the profound Gift Yeshua died for and applied it to the Roman class system:
 
Galatians 3:27-28. because as many of you as were immersed into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah, in whom 28 there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one.
 
There is no pyramid class system in the Kingdom of God! Everyone has an equal seat at the communion table in the Messianic Kingdom! There is no racism, bigotry, class, or cultural identity- all are one “as many of you as were immersed into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah”.  In union with Yeshua, WE ARE ALL ONE! Sha’ul also applied this to both the Roman and Judean class system:  
 
Colossians 3:10-11. and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator. 11 The new self allows no room for discriminating between Gentile and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, savage, slave, free man; on the contrary, in all, the Messiah is everything.

The New Self allows no room for discrimination between Jew or Gentile. It’s not that Jews and Gentiles don’t exist, it’s that such distinctions must not become a ground for discrimination or a spirit of division within the greater body of Messiah. There is no class system, no separation, no distinctions, between all believers! We obtain this by putting on the New Self, the One New Humanity. It is Yeshua who bought equality which is the basis of unity among the “mixed crowd” of believers. Putting on the New Self requires change and transformation which is the result of being “immersed into the Messiah”. This New Self is continually being renewed. “Anakaino “in the Greek: to make new, to be renewed completely by Adonai as He stated in Jeremiah 31, renewal of the inward person, into the true knowledge of our creator, Adonai, and Yeshua! To be transformed from the former corrupt state into a new life-born again!! From this comes true brotherly love!
 
What this is really talking about is Messianic Kingdom Character! What are the attributes of Kingdom Character? Self-control, love, truth, transparency, honesty, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, perseverance, charity, grace, godliness, and brotherly affection! It’s only though these Kingdom Character traits that we may be equal and unified! To do so requires us to destroy the old self, the old nature, the fleshly, worldly desires.
 
Colossians 3:5-9. Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature - sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry); 6 for it is because of these things that God's anger is coming on those who disobey him. 7 True enough, you used to practice these things in the life you once lived; 8 but now, put them all away - anger, exasperation, meanness, slander and obscene talk. 9 Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the old self, with its ways,

This requires being led by the Ruach HaKodesh because the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. They oppose each other! The original DNA of Adam was corrupted by Adam’s sin, His disobedience of God’s known will (which is His whole, complete word)-we are all infected with this corruption. Remember, the covenant hasn’t changed! I can’t tell you how many BELIEVERS miss this truth.  Rather than acknowledge their sin, confess it and repent, they will either leave a congregation, spend the rest of their life hurting, angry, and bitter or it dissolves into “They Got This!” mentality. They try to "handle it themselves," they’ll give more, pray more, or busy themselves in activity in the false hope that God will finally "get over" their issues, character flaws, or even forget it. Adonai wants none of that. External religious activity cannot replace internal, heartfelt confession and repentance. This is what will give us a broken and contrite heart which produces Kingdom Character! HaSatan didn’t tempt Adam and Eve to murder, steal, lie, or commit idolatry! He tempted them to question the word of God, which he continues to do to this very day! By denying, disobeying, and ignoring the covenant, God’s word we don’t have a unified body who loves each other as their self! We don’t have to wait for Yeshua’s return!  We can start building the Messianic Kingdom now in preparation for His return!!
 
Blessings,
 
Rabbi Eric Carlson

Proverbs 13:21. Evil pursues sinners, but prosperity will reward the righteous.

There is a way to prosperity by what you do as a Child of God, even in times of tribulation and trouble:  Serve the Lord with all your heart!  Righteous is Tzadik in Hebrew.  To be declared Just by God, to be made right with God, to be restored, to be vindicated, cleansed, and cleared of all charges.  It is living this way, righteously before God.  Prosperity is Y’shaLem in Hebrew, to be in a covenant of Shalom with God, to be made whole, to be completed, to make safe, to restore, to prosper, to be in Shalom regardless of your situation or surroundings!  The root word of Y’shaLem is Shalom which means completion, wholeness, wellness, Kingdom perfection, the absence of conflict.  A variant of Y’shaLem is a city you are all very familiar with; Yerushalayim, the City of Peace, wholeness, completion, wellness, Kingdom Perfection, and no conflict.
 
The Tzadik, the righteous person before God will be rewarded with Y’shaLem.
 
This is a far cry from today’s ever-present Prosperity message.  I’ve had individuals over the years confront me and want to know where their money and material wealth is since they had self-determined that their life was a righteous one before God. A few were even upset that the wicked and evil seemed to be swimming in wealth and riches and wanted to know where their wealth and riches were?  Based upon Proverbs 31:21 their understanding is way off track of what prosperity from God is, as Yeshua said:
 
Matthew 6:21.  For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.

There is a warning to those who love this world and desire all of its pleasures:
 
I John 2:15-16.  Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; 16 because all the things of the world - the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life - are not from the Father but from the world.

With curiosity I looked up Pretensions or pride of life and it caught me by surprise: Pretensions is alazoneia {al-ad-zon-i'-a} in the Greek, insolence, trusting in your own power, one who shamefully despises and violates God’s laws, a braggart, one who trusts in the ways of the world!  This is not the way to live righteously before God.  

We have a biblical example of someone who lived according to Proverbs 13:21. King Hezekiah!  King Hezekiah lived in a very tumultuous and violent time.  He faced powerful enemies, superpowers who sought their destruction.  The kingdom and world that he grew up in was rife with idolatry, his own parents had rejected God and encouraged the worship of false gods and idols:
 
II Chronicles 28:1-5.  Achaz was twenty years old when he began his reign, and he ruled sixteen years in Yerushalayim. But he did not do what was right from the perspective of ADONAI, as David his ancestor had done. 2 Rather, he lived in the manner of the kings of Isra'el and made cast metal images for the ba'alim. 3 Moreover, he made offerings in the Ben-Hinnom Valley and even burned up his own children as sacrifices, in keeping with the horrible practices of the pagans, whom ADONAI had thrown out ahead of the people of Isra'el. 4 He also sacrificed and offered on the high places, on the hills and under any green tree. 5 Because of this, ADONAI his God handed him over to the king of Aram; they attacked him and carried off from his people a great number of captives, bringing them to Dammesek. In addition, he was handed over to the king of Isra'el, who inflicted on him a great massacre.

Handed over in the Hebrew is Nathan, it means to grant or give permission, to be given up or given over! As described in Deuteronomy, blessings and curses, because of his wickedness and evil God granted permission to Aram to successfully attack Judah!  But this isn’t the worst:

II Chronicles 28:23-27.  by sacrificing to the gods of Dammesek, who had attacked him, reasoning, "The gods of the kings of Aram helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, and then they'll help me." But they became the ruin of him and of all Isra'el. 24 Achaz collected the equipment from the house of God, broke to pieces the equipment from the house of God and sealed the doors of the house of ADONAI; then he made himself altars in every corner of Yerushalayim. 25 In every city of Y'hudah he made high places for offering to other gods, thus provoking ADONAI the God of his ancestors. 26 Other activities of Achaz and his ways [of doing things], from beginning to end, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah and Isra'el. 27 Achaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Yerushalayim; because they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Isra'el. Then Hizkiyahu his son took his place as king.

This was Hezekiah’s heritage, environment, and background yet he did not submit to his heritage.  As a side note for every person who was raised in a dysfunctional and ungodly home and environment, you have the choice to live right by God and not accept your heritage.  It is someone else’s fault when you’re young but once you come into the age of accountability and young adulthood, the decisions you make are your own, you choose to live differently then how you were raised. The point is you reach a crossroads in life when the blame game must stop, you are accountable for your actions!!  
 
Hezekiah could have rejected God like his parents, he certainly had the opportunity and infrastructure to do so, in fact it would have been expected of him yet Hezekiah chose to serve God, to live by God’s rulings and reject to the ways of the world and his heritage just as we must choose!  This choice was not mainstream, it wasn’t popular or politically correct!  Just making a choice isn’t enough either.  Once you choose a path, one must do everything in their power to promote and perform worship and service to the living God of Israel.  Hezekiah, like us had to destroy his old nature that he received from his parents and become something else.
 
II Corinthians 5:17-18. Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation - the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! 18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation,

Those who jealously look at the world’s wealth and riches are not yet a new creation, the old nature is still rising within and lusting after the things of the world.   If you’ve even had that thought it must be placed under the blood and removed because it’s not God’s model for prosperity, it’s the worlds and not of Gods as we read in I John 2. Isaiah shares that all the nations will recognize that the God of Israel is God, they will serve Him while retaining their ethnicity, their racial identity.  
 
If you are of Irish decent your ethnicity or race will always be Irish, but your culture will transformed to reflect a biblical one.  This is the point being brought out in II Corinthians 5! Your DNA remains the same, Jewish or Gentile, Irish, Italian, German, English, African, Asian, Russian, Mandarin, Egyptian, Cantonese, Samoan, Native American! You become a new creation in Messiah living a life that reflects a biblical, heavenly culture.  You’re not a child of God and continue eating ham sandwiches [EC1] because that’s your culture-that’s an oxymoron, pork is no longer part of your culture!  This very point is brought out by Yeshua to the Messianic Congregation of Pergamum in
 
Revelation 2:14. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people who hold to the teaching of Bil‘am, who taught Balak to set a trap for the people of Isra’el, so that they would eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sin.

Deny the old nature through love, obedience and discipline.  This is how we overcome!
 
I John 5:3-4.  For loving God means obeying his commands. Moreover, his commands are not burdensome, 4 because everything which has God as its Father overcomes the world. And this is what victoriously overcomes the world: our trust.
 
When Hezekiah chose to serve God, he did so with Zeal, with all of heart mind and soul as God asks of us, remember the Shema?
 
Deuteronomy 6:5. and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources.

Hezekiah served God with every fiber of his being, he worshiped the living God through both words and his actions.  
 
II Chronicles 29:1-10. Hizkiyahu was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Aviyah the daughter of Z'kharyah. 2 He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything David his ancestor had done. 3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he reopened the doors of the house of ADONAI and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the cohanim and L'vi'im, assembled them in the open space to the east, 5 and said to them, "Listen to me, L'vi'im: consecrate yourselves now, consecrate the house of ADONAI the God of your ancestors, and remove the filth from the Holy Place. 6 For our ancestors acted treacherously, they did what is evil from the perspective of ADONAI our God, they abandoned him, they turned their faces away from where ADONAI lives and turned their backs on him. 7 They sealed the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps and stopped burning incense and offering burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Isra'el. 8 "Because of this, ADONAI's anger has settled on Y'hudah and Yerushalayim; and he has made them an object of horror, astonishment and mocking - as you can see with your own eyes. 9 Here, our ancestors have fallen by the sword; and on this account our sons, daughters and wives have gone into captivity. 10 "Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with ADONAI the God of Isra'el, so that his furious anger will turn away from us.
 
His zeal, dedication, and disciplined approach in serving God came from a contrite and broken heart that sought to turn back to God and restore covenant relationship with Him, averting Gods anger and wrath.  His commitment and zeal were a fire that set other people ablaze for God:

II Chronicles 30:12-14. Also in Y'hudah the hand of God was at work, uniting their hearts to do what the king and the leaders had ordered in accordance with the word of ADONAI. 13 Thus, many people assembled in Yerushalayim to keep the festival of Matzot in the second month, a huge crowd. 14 First they set about removing the altars that were in Yerushalayim, and they also removed all the altars for incense and threw them in Vadi Kidron.
 
Hezekiah’s fire and desire coupled with the people’s zeal brought about physical action and change! People begin removing the idols and altars from their land and their lives while returning to God and His calendar timeline.  Hezekiah thrives, he enjoyed prosperity during a trying and difficult time of famine and warfare all around him because He was righteous before God, Hezekiah had resolved to follow God despite popular opinion and political correctness which was contrary to this!  God gave the same call to Ezekiel:
 
Ezekiel 3:7-9. But the house of Isra'el will not be willing to listen to you, because they aren't willing to listen to me; since all the house of Isra'el are obstinate and hardhearted. 8 However, I am making you as defiant and obstinate as they are. 9 Yes, I am making your resoluteness harder than flint, as hard as a diamond. So don't be afraid of them or depressed by how they look at you, because they are a rebellious house."
 
Radical times call for radical people, many of today’s Shepherds’ are too meek and mild, not standing for truth, justice, and righteousness.  Too many are succumbing to political correctness, fear, tolerance, and complacency.  We live in a land of stiff-necked, obstinate hard-hearted people so we must be obstinate and stiff-necked in sharing the good news! God will honor the heart that is committed and submitted to Him:
 
II Chronicles 31:21. Every project that he undertook in order to seek his God, whether in the service of the house of God or in connection with the Torah and the mitzvot, he did with all his heart; and so he succeeded.

This is in stark contrast to all the other kings who did what was evil from Gods perspective, such as Solomon’s son Rehoboam whose actions actually divided Judah & Israel.  Even among the Cohen, those ministering and serving God, we see what God told Eli regarding his sin of not protecting the holy things of God:

I Samuel 2:30. "Therefore ADONAI the God of Isra'el says, 'I did indeed say that your family and your father's family would walk in my presence forever.' But now ADONAI says, 'Forget it! I respect those who respect me, but those who despise me will meet with contempt.

Contempt in Hebrew is qalal {kaw-lal'}, to treat with contempt, to despise, to be cursed!  The Hebrew root word for curse is “arar” which means the polar opposite of bless.  If blessing someone means to invoke God’s favor and protection on them, cursing is to remove them from God’s protection, favor, power, and sustenance.  This all confirms Proverbs 13, prosperity will reward the righteous.  Prosperity isn’t material the worldly wealth we envision, prosperity comes when we are right with God, in submission to Him:
 
Job 22:21. (NIV) " “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you..
 
Good News Translation: Job 22:21  Now, Job, make peace with God and stop treating him like an enemy; if you do, then he will bless you.

May your righteousness be rewarded by Adonai!
 
Love and Shalom,
 
Rabbi Eric Carlson

Shalom Mishpocah,

        June, the sixth month of the year and the first month of summer is here! June has 30 days and is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of youth and protection. Her name (Latin Iūnō) comes from the root word for “young” (Iuuen) and goes back to the idea of vital energy and fertility. The month of June welcomes the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing longer days, blooming flowers, and warm sunshine. From major June holidays like Juneteenth and Father’s Day to the summer solstice and the glowing Strawberry Moon, this vibrant month is full of meaningful events and seasonal beauty.

Sunday, June 14th, 2026, is Flag Day! Flag Day is a celebration of the adoption of the American flag by Continental Congress in the First Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777. Flag Day wasn’t officially recognized until President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949. To observe Flag Day, fly your American flag!

The Summer solstice, the longest day of the year, occurs on Sunday, June 21st, 2026, at 04:24 AM EST. The Summer Solstice is also known as the longest day, which is perhaps the most notable feature. This is the first day of Astronomical Summer and occurs as the sun reaches its most northerly or southerly path in the sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, June is the start of winter and contains the winter solstice, the day with the fewest hours of daylight out of the year. North of the Arctic Circle, the June solstice is when the midnight sun occurs, during which the Sun remains visible even at midnight.

Sunday June 21st, 2026 is Father’s Day! Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington, at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. It’s first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Anna Jarvis' Mother's Day at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, the pastors of the Spokane Ministerial Alliance did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. For decades Father’s Day failed to become a national event.

In 1957, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith wrote a proposal accusing Congress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while honoring mothers, thus "[singling] out just one of our two parents". In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law on April 24, 1972.

Friday June 19th, 2026 celebrates Juneteenth! Juneteenth commemorates the dates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the Confederate state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

This day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name coming from a portmanteau of the words June and teenth like nineteenth and other numbers ending with –teenth. The North’s victory brought an end to both the Civil War and the scourge of slavery.  This national conflict resulted in three addendums to the Freedom document, the Bill of Rights.  The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment gave equal citizenship to every human being born in this country regardless of race, granting the full rights and protection of the U.S. Constitution, and the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. May we truly live and worship together as one!

June’s full Moon, the full Strawberry Moon, occurs on Monday, June 29. It reaches peak illumination at 7:56 P.M. The name "Strawberry Moon" comes from the time of year when strawberries are ripe for harvesting. Other names for this full moon include the Berries Ripen Moon and Green Corn Moon.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on 1 June and lasts until 30 November. The following is a basic list for preparedness for hurricanes or any disaster or emergency:

• Several Flashlights.
• An ample supply of Lithium batteries (lithium lasts longer).
• A good first aid kit.
• Water, One gallon per person per day.
• Candles with matches/lighters.
• Emergency canned food that is high in protein such as Beans, Peanut Butter, Beef stew. Items that have a long shelf life, are ready to eat, and need no preparation. At least a three-day supply per person (I recommend a 30-day supply).
• An emergency self-powered radio that can be charged with a hand crank or solar charged.
• Make sure you have any prescription medicines you need on hand!
• A whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional items to consider:

• Infant formula and diapers.
• Pet food, water, and supplies for your pet.
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a portable waterproof container.
• Cash and change – ATM machines will not be functioning without electricity.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Fire Extinguisher.
• Feminine supplies, personal hygiene items and hand sanitizer.
• Mess kits, Paper cups, plates and disposable utensils, paper towels.
• Paper and pencil.
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children.
• VHF/UHF Two-way Radio

Generator with gasoline. The time to buy a generator is now if you are considering purchasing one! This is a very basic list, adapt it for your own personal preferences and needs! I also recommend that you have a resource to defend and protect yourself and your family. In times of catastrophes such as New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 there were no emergency services (police or EMS) for almost 30 days. Gather extra supplies to share! Being prepared is a supernatural opportunity during any emergency to be a blessing to others. Whether that is providing information, know-how skills, or actual supplies or food, being prepared can spread the love and salvation of Yeshua during stressful times. In the extremely unlikely event that all communication is down Congregation Zion’s Sake has an FM transmitter and a 15ft Antenna that has approx. a 12-mile broadcast radius from our offices. We will broadcast on 99.5 FM pertinent and emergency information to your emergency radio.

James 2:15-17. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, 16 and someone says to him, “Shalom! Keep warm and eat hearty!” without giving him what he needs, what good does it do? 17 Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.
As Believers, we should always be prepared, relevant, aware of our surroundings, and paying attention to what is happening in the world around us. Remember, acts of kindness open eyes of blindness!

Shalom and Blessings,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson

This physical restoration of the Nation of Israel on May 14th, 1948, resulted in a supernatural spiritual outpouring and move of Adonai. The great tent healing revivals of Billy Graham, William Branham, Oral Roberts, T. L. Osborn, A. A. Allen to name but a few...I want us to clearly see the pattern, the intertwined relationship, the inseparable connection between the people, the Nation of Israel and the spirit realm of God.  Then in June 1967, after the 6-day war, Jerusalem is prophetically restored back into our Jewish hands as Yeshua prophesied:
 
Luke 21:24. Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled (pateo {pat-eh'-o}: Trampled, to tread underfoot-occupied or ruled, to strike or smitten) down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.
 
The age or kairos time of the Gentile occupation and rule of Jerusalem ended June 7th, 1967. This physical restoration resulted in a profound spiritual, charismatic spiritual outpouring, revival, the Jesus freak movement, Y.M.J.A. was birthed, the modern messianic movement explodes with thousands of Jewish believers coming to Yeshua through this charismatic revival outpouring. Takes me right to the refreshing, revival, restoration scripture;
 
Acts 3:19-21. "Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord's presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua. 21 He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.

It's so profound, restoration (renewal) is the foundation for revival but as we read on, we see another key revelation:
 
Acts 3:24-26. Indeed, all the prophets announced these days, starting with Sh'mu'el and continuing through all who followed. 25 "You are the sons of the prophets; and you are included in the covenant which God made with our fathers when he said to Avraham, 'By your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.' 26 So it is to you first that God has sent his servant whom he has raised up, so that he might bless you by turning each one of you from your evil ways."

It’s about the people, to the Jew first but also the nations!  It’s personal!  It’s about every one of His creations being restored unto Him! As the historical, physical Israel continues to be restored, as the dirt is removed and 5,000 years of Jewish history is undug so too will some 2,000 years of spiritual sludge and dirt be removed. We’re in the Season of spirit and truth; as Yeshua spoke to the woman at the well in Shechem;
 
John 4:23-24. But the time is coming—indeed, it's here now—when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly."
 
A little over 50 years ago we experienced a profound, supernatural outpouring of the Aish, Heavenly Fire, the Ruach Elohim, the Spirit of God! Millions were coming to Yeshua!  Young, old, Jew and Gentile, every nation, tribe, and tongue! But, then as often happens the outpouring, the movement plateaus. It’s a cyclical pattern that’s been repeated for millennia. Things become entrenched, stale, with little growth or forward movement!  The outpouring becomes a denomination, a movement that isn’t moving. It’s then time for renewal!
 
We have a divine mandate to be a mature, sin free body that acquires the groaning’s of the Holy Spirit for revival, seeking life from the dead, to see signs and wonders restored upon them that believe.  To restore, heal, and renew our Jewish people to receive and accept Yeshua and assume their place as the leaders of the body of Messiah.  This centers on the restoration and renewal of Israel:
 
Romans 11:15. For if their casting Yeshua aside means reconciliation for the world, what will their accepting him mean? It will be life from the dead (nekros {nek-ros'}: deceased, departed, without life, spiritually dead, destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God, destitute of force or power)!

The world will be radically transformed when we fulfill our destiny as Messianic Believers, bringing the “Good News”, the Gospel of Salvation to both Jew and Gentile alike while demonstrating the Dunamis, resurrection power associated with it. To cultivate an atmosphere of revival requires work on our part, action by us renew our commitment to the “Life from the dead” awakening in our homes and congregations, a renewed spirit in His presence:
 
Psalms 51:12-14. (TLV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew (Hadas: renew, restore, renovate, rebuild, new, fresh, restoring, revitalizing ones spirit) a steadfast spirit within me. 13 Do not cast me from Your presence—Take not Your Ruach ha-Kodesh from me. 14 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Our society is one of anarchy, social and moral decay, racial division, wokeism, LGBQT false narrative, polarized politics, and the complete loss of confidence in both our government and the Mainstream Media who no longer reports news but thrives on op-ed, political spin, and Hollywood gossip. People are starving for fellowship but seized by fear, panic, apathy, and complacency! A major factor in this is the Church or Congregations’ inability to be relevant and speak the word of truth into our local and national situations! The truth of God’s word which is relevant and topical, powerfully speaking to us today!
 
The result in all this isn’t a negative one which I’m sure many are thinking right now, that’s the direction I’m heading, surprise, no I’m not! I strongly feel that we are at a profound crossroads, a moment of divine opportunity, an open door to move in new, heavenly direction with new strategies to reach the lost and lead the children of God in Kingdom truth! What will be required is that we must renew ourselves, renovate, rebuild, start new, refresh, restore and revitalize our spirits in these complex and confusing times!
 
Here is what I’ve experienced and witnessed recently; People are searching for truth and meaning, substance, topicality, and relevance regarding the world around us and what truly matters both in our world and in their personal, spiritual lives! People are scared, confused, and searching for answers, they desire supernatural transformation! There is a growing desire, a deep hunger for answers, for truth, and nothing can compare to the name and power of Yeshua, the Good News, and the absolute that sets people free![EC1] To begin moving forward again we must seek several shifts in our norm to completely renew ourselves.

1) Renewing the movement requires us to shift and rely on Adonai’s power and presence vice religion, rituals, or our own skill sets.

I’ve shared numerous times over the years Yeshua’s ministry was one of demonstrating the Power, the Dunamis of Adonai then introducing the King!  One of the foundational principles of the Messianic Movement is the restoration of the word coupled with the power which is why many are joining with this Messianic Revolution!  Preparing for the return of the Jewish Messiah!  We share and preach the unadulterated word of God through the eyes and culture of its Messianic Jewish Authors just as Yeshua did!
 
Matthew 4:23-25.  Yeshua went all over the Galil teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing people from every kind of disease and sickness. 24 Word of him spread throughout all Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill, suffering from various diseases and pains, and those held in the power of demons, and epileptics and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Huge crowds followed him from the Galil, the Ten Towns, Yerushalayim, Y'hudah, and `Ever-HaYarden.
 
We are commanded to be Talmidim, Disciples of Yeshua! Why did huge crowds follow Yeshua?  He healed every kind of sickness and disease! A disciple or Talmid in Hebrew is one who accepts, mimics, and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. To be a Talmidim of Yeshua is to act like Him, to do what He did, to adhere to His teachings, His words, His commands!!  Yeshua proclaimed the Kingdom by demonstrating the power, healing all who were brought to Him whereby HUGE crowds followed Him.  This is true, biblical, Kingdom revival! When the presence of God is here-something will happen! No advertising is necessary, when the power is demonstrated people show up!  Same then as it is today!  Sha’ul captured this understanding and walked in it:
 
I Corinthians 2:4-5.  and neither the delivery nor the content of my message relied on compelling words of "wisdom" but on a demonstration of the power (Dunamis: strength power, ability, inherent power, power for performing miracles.) of the Spirit, 5 so that your trust might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.

Sha'ul planted numerous congregations, healed the sick, raised the dead through God's power, a true Talmid of Yeshua!  It wasn’t religion, Talmud, Judaism, oral traditions, or any other doctrine, all of which Sha’ul said in Philippians 3 he considered worthless, a disadvantage!  He gave it all up in order to be in union with the Messiah and live in the Dunamis power! Sha’ul profoundly tells us, as Yeshua demonstrated, that he wasn't eloquent in speech or a gifted orator. Sha'ul, Paul understood the basic fundamental characteristic of God's Kingdom, it's one of the Word and power! Regardless of how he spoke, the words that came out of Sha'ul carried a heavenly power, an anointing that came from God through the Ruach HaKodesh, a requirement, a mandate for us to renew ourselves.

2) A renewed movement requires leaders who will be transparent, who are willing to honestly, objectively evaluate the impact they are truly making.

Congregation Zion’s Sake humbly began with around 28 people over 26 years ago. We’ve substantially grown since then. First, this is somewhat unusual for a Messianic Congregation as the average size of a Messianic Synagogue is around 40 members. Second, Adonai has blessed us abundantly beyond our comprehension. There are some key attributes that have gotten us to this place and some that will help us get to where God wants us to be. This is not your father’s Synagogue and it's not your father's Church. Adonai is doing something new, challenging both Jew and Gentile alike to "Think for yourselves" and seek restoration and truth. As a Congregation, we’ve rebranded ourselves over 6 times in twenty-six years seeking to keep moving, stay topical and relevant. We continuously review and monitor the impact we make upon this world.
 
Unfortunately, too many focus upon the ways, the traditions, things and events of the past! I’ve mentioned the Azuza street/William J Seymore revival 100-year event (1906-2006) which I was asked to be a part of and I turned it down, old manna! Trying to recreate something that’s old! We must look forward to the new thing Adonai is doing now, not behind us to the past! Yeshua is talking about our choice to commit and serve in the kingdom, which is always moving, always expanding! The most effective congregations, leaders, and congregates routinely seek input and evaluation regarding their work for Adonai, checking for truth and effectiveness. Are we bearing fruit? Does my preaching reconcile with the word of Adonai? We must be like the nobler people of Berea! It’s about stewardship with what we’ve been given and the stakes are high! Yeshua said in:
 
Matthew 18:6 and whoever ensnares (skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} ("scandalize"): a stumbling block or impediment in the way, to offend, to entice to sin, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey, to cause to fall away, what hinders one from acknowledging the authority of Yeshua, bait stick!) one of these little ones who trust me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the open sea!
 
This is a serious indictment against those who teach falsely, who engage in the doctrine of demons and lying spirits to cause people to apostatize! This is why I hammer away week after week regarding absolute reconciliation to biblical truth! I don’t want religion, I want Kingdom, biblical truth! There is a severe penalty for teaching and preaching false doctrine, oral law, counterfeit grace and hyper love messages!
 
James 3:1. Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely.

We have a kingdom mandate to preach the word right! A renewed movement will require great intentionality in the restoration of the whole word of Adonai and not get bogged down in manmade religious dogma and rituals!  We must be worshiping Adonai in Spirit and Truth.

3) A renewed movement requires everyone be engaged in sharing the Good News! To develop and disciple people and congregates to reach, to engage the world with the Gospel.

The restoration of Messianic Leadership, the revival of Israel, a worldwide outpouring that Yeshua prayed for in John 17 and Sha’ul, Paul states in Romans 11 “Life from the dead”.  It’s not going to just fall on us.  We MUST lay into this in prayer and fasting!  We must lay siege to heaven, the Watchman must neither slumber nor sleep until He restores Jerusalem as a praise upon the earth, until Adonai in Heaven Shema’s, hears our prayers, our groaning, and crying and acknowledges us. We must do as our master did and as He commanded us.  We must follow biblical protocol and biblical pattern. Marks account of Yeshua’s 40 period of fasting states:
 
Mark 1:12-13.  Immediately the Spirit drove (ekballo {ek-bal'-lo}: drive, force, impulse, hurl forth, eject, a force overcoming opposite forces, a forceful, violent movement) him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by the Adversary. He was with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.
 
Kingdom transitions of renewal require force.  We weren’t released from Slavery until after the horrific plaques against Egypt.  We didn’t return from exile easily, it required force, as Nehemiah reveals a brick and one hand and a sword in the other to renew the walls of Jerusalem.  And Yeshua Himself, who came to give us the renewed covenant of Jeremiah, was ekballo’d, driven, impulsed into the wilderness where He was tempted while the Angels took care of Him!  Yeshua said in Matthew 11:12 that since the “time of Yochanan the Immerser the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force!” Ekballo, with force, with impulse, with fierce passion we gathered in one accord with singleness of Mind and prayer for the outpouring of the Ruach!  And so, we must also do the same today.  
Matthew 9:35-38.  Yeshua went about all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and weakness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his talmidim, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. 38 Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out (ekballo {ek-bal'-lo}: drive, force, impulse, hurl forth, eject, a force overcoming opposite forces, a forceful, violent movement) workers to gather in his harvest."

Its time right now for the Messianic Community, just like those 120 Messianic Jews in the upper room, too forcefully, passionately, impulse, interject ourselves into our prophetic destiny, to shift history, to pray and fast for the largest apostolic move of God ever recorded. To renew our movement!! I’ve shared this before, there is a radical shifting occurring as the original Messianic Leadership of the Entire body of Christ is restored! Yeshua’s words in Matthew 9 isn’t a suggestion, its fiery command.  Yeshua is commanding us to hurl ourselves with force into this, to overcome opposing forces, to see the salvation of all Israel and the world!  To ekballo, to drive, to force, to shift history so that Adonai will Shema, hear, acknowledge us in heaven.  This is a long term, systematic pressing in! As we experienced the last two years, things don’t go how we think they should, moves of God come from suffering, trials, and sacrifice!  
 
II Corinthians 1:8-10. For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. 9 In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! 10 He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us.

Sha’ul’s trials in Asia made him feel like he would die! It's the process of dying to self to rely upon Adonai whose power raises the dead! He rescued us before and will do so for us in the future! There are certain times in our lives, such as the last two years that make us feel like we are under a death sentence, but these trials produce change. This crushing process is likened to Myrrh that is harvest from a very thorny bush/tree called a Commiphora. When a wound on this bush penetrates through the bark and into the sapwood, the tree secretes a resin. Myrrh gum, like frankincense, is such a resin. Myrrh is harvested by repeatedly wounding the trees to bleed the gum. This sweet fragrance used in temple worship is a product of continuous wounding the bush. We joke about this, you know you’re on the Kingdom front lines and moving forward when you’re getting shot at, under attack, trials, and despair! This is good news! When you are far behind the battle it’s peaceful, there is no tsuris, no trials. We too must be prepared to move to the front lines and suffer, to sacrifice for the Kingdom!
 
Romans 12:1. I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical "Temple worship" for you.
 
Renewing our movement, surging forward in the kingdom, relying more on Adonai’s power, truly making a kingdom impact with every congregate engaged requires great sacrifice! As Yeshua told us:
 
Matthew 16:24. Then Yeshua told his talmidim, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him say `No' to himself (Aparneomai: Deny, refuse, say no to oneself, deny your own interests [sacrifice]), take up his execution-stake, and keep following me.

Few today are willing or know how to sacrifice for the Kingdom! Are we willing to sacrifice our TV/movie/Internet/gaming time to read the word and pray? Are we willing to sacrifice activities that keep us from fellowship and services. Are we willing to sacrifice our desire for material wealth; a nicer car/home/computer/TV/wardrobe so the money can be used to support kingdom needs? Revival doesn’t just somehow happen! The fire of Adonai always falls on the sacrifice! We must become that living sacrifice! Do we walk with the world, or do we renew ourselves and walk with Yeshua?
 
Blessings,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

We witness a pattern of rhythms and routines in creation! From the planets’ orbit in our solar system to the rhythms and cycles of our season, the ocean tides, sunrise and sunset!
 
We live our lives in cycles, from birth to growing, learning how to talk, walk, then school, bar and bat mitzvahs as children transition into young adults, maturity, marriage, children, careers, then grandchildren, great grandchildren, then death and the transition in spirit back to Adonai God (If one knows and receives Yeshua) every individual choice. This cycle continues on L’Dor V’dor, generation to generation!
 
The physical body exhibits a multitude of cycles, sleep to awake, the rhythm of breathing cycles, eating cycles, spiritual cycles of weekly gathering, worship, prayer! We also see biblical cycles throughout scripture! Adonai gave a very specific command to King Saul in:
 
I Samuel 15:3. Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
 
But here is what Saul actually did:
 
I Samuel 15:8-11. He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed. 10 Then the word of ADONAI came to Sh'mu'el: 11 "I regret setting up Sha'ul as king, because he has turned back from following me and hasn't obeyed my orders." This made Sh'mu'el very sad, so that he cried to ADONAI all night.
 
Saul had a deep character flaw that kept him from obeying, from follow Adonai’s orders! The results are not good (I’ll get to that in a minute). If you’re life is a big mess there’s a very high probability you haven’t been doing what Adonai’s been commanding you to do or worse you haven’t inquired, you haven’t asked Him! So many well-intentioned believers just stumble through life without seeking daily guidance and instructions from Adonai! If you will repent, perform Teshuvah, seek Him, and start making right choices, Adonai will give you the ability to transform, your life will turn around for the good!
 
But be prepared, because when you start making a concerted effort to be submissive and obey, your flesh isn’t onboard with your decision to serve Adonai! Rebellion resists authority! It is a daily struggle within each and every one of us between the flesh and the spirit. Struggling with the flesh is a common battle all Spirit filled believer’s encounter! Sha’ul was no exception to this struggle and speaks with great transparency his own battle in his letter to the congregation in Rome:
 
Romans 7:15-20. For I do not understand what I am doing—for what I do not want, this I practice; but what I hate, this I do. 16 But if I do what I do not want to do, then I agree with the Torah—that it is good.17 So now it is no longer I doing it, but sin dwelling in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me—that is, in my flesh. For to will is present in me, but to do the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do; but the evil that I do not want, this I practice. 20 But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I doing it, but sin that dwells in me.
 
The struggle is real and unfortunately the hyper, counterfeit grace theology makes this worse by teaching obedience isn’t necessary, that you’re under grace so one can do whatever the flesh desires. The danger of this doctrine of demons is that Adonai removes His presence with its associated blessings from the rebellious and disobedient. If He blessed disobedience, it would lead to more disobedience. Rebellion and disobedience cause Adonai’s presence to depart, which results in the loss of His Dunamis Power upon us! I don’t think there’s a single person who would say they don’t want or need Adonai’s dunamis power in their life. So what happened to Saul? He was confronted by a deeply grieved Sh’muel:
 
I Samuel 15:19-23. Why did you seize the spoil instead of paying attention to what ADONAI said? From ADONAI's viewpoint, you have done an evil thing." 20 Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek. 21 But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal." 22 Sh'mu'el said, "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion (m’riy {mer-ee'}: rebellion against God, disobedience of God, to be contentious, bitterness) is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king."
 
See here is the first issue when confronted with his disobedience! Saul genuinely answers "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek”! Then he throws his people under the bus: “But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal.". He said to YOUR God, not OUR GOD! Clearly there is a deep issue here, Saul is supposed to be in charge which is why Adonai gave him the command and not the people! But he just can’t find it within himself to submit and obey! Because Saul rejected the word of Adonai, Adonai rejected him! Rebellion is not just an outward behavior, but it’s an attitude problem, a matter of the heart. Adonai hates, He despises rebellion, and says it “is as the sin of sorcery, witchcraft and like the crime of Idolatry in I Sam 15:23. Scripture defines the characteristics and fruit of rebellion. Rebellion grieves the Holy Spirit and causes Him to be their enemy and fight against them:
 
Isaiah 63:10. However, they rebelled, they grieved his Holy Spirit; so he became their enemy and himself fought against them.
 
If one defies, rebels against the word of God, spurning His counsel it causes one to sit in darkness, in death dark gloom (The shadow of death):
 
Psalm 107:10-11. Some lived in darkness, in death-dark gloom, bound in misery and iron chains, 11 because they defied God's word, scorned the counsel of the Most High.
 
If you rebel against the commandments of the Lord, the hand of the Lord will be against you
 
I Samuel 12:14-15. If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 15 However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
 
Obedience and submission are required for the land to produce sustenance and safety.
 
Leviticus 26:3-6, 15-21. “If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land—you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land.
 
Adonai makes covenants with both the land and the people! There is a direct connection!! When the people serve Adonai in submission and obedience there is Shalom in the land, the absence of conflict! When the people rebel, if they loath and reject His rulings it gets bad for them and the land that’s also has a parallel reaction:
 
Leviticus 15-21. if you loathe my regulations and reject my rulings, in order not to obey all my mitzvot but cancel my covenant; 16 then I, for my part, will do this to you: I will bring terror upon you -wasting disease and chronic fever to dim your sight and sap your strength. You will sow your seed for nothing, because your enemies will eat the crops. 17 I will set my face against you - your enemies will defeat you, those who hate you will hound you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. 18 If these things don't make you listen to me, then I will discipline you seven times over for your sins. 19 I will break the pride you have in your own power. I will make your sky like iron, your soil like bronze - 20 you will spend your strength in vain, because the land will not yield its produce or the trees in the field their fruit. 21 "'Yes, if you go against me and don't listen to me, I will increase your calamities sevenfold, according to your sins.

This continues, the punishment gets worse and worse until at last in verse 33 Adonai states: “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” Scripture reveals that the obedient are blessed and redeemed while the rebellious:
 
Psalms 68:6. God gives homes to those who are alone and leads prisoners out into prosperity. But rebels must live in a parched wasteland.
 
Many biblical figures people rebelled throughout scripture and paid a great price for doing so, some their lives and their families. Moshe rebelled and struck the rock so he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Korach, Datan, and Aviram and 250 leaders in Israel, key members of the council, men of reputation and rebelled against Moshes authority and Adonai. All of them including their families were swallowed up into the ground and they all went to She’ol!
 
Aaron rebelled by not trusting Adonai and crafting the golden calf so he was not allowed into the Promised Land. David was not allowed to build God’s Temple because he had spilled much blood. Saul was removed from being king and the presence of Adonai withdrew from him because of his rebellion. Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for rebellion. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish for his rebellion of Adonai’s commands to him. The lives of Ananias and Sapphira were taken because of rebellions and disobedience. Those who commit rebellion will be delivered to their enemy:
 
Nehemiah 9:26-28. "'Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you, throwing your Torah behind their backs. They killed your prophets for warning them that they should return to you and committed other gross provocations. 27 So you handed them over to the power of their adversaries, who oppressed them. Yet in the time of their trouble, when they cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in keeping with your great compassion, you gave them saviors to save them from the power of their adversaries. 28 But as soon as they had gotten some relief, they went back to do evil before you. So you left them in the power of their enemies, who came down hard on them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven many times and saved them, according to your compassion.
 
What is being described by Nehemiah is the very rebellious and disobedient behaviors that resulted in our removal from the land exactly as prophesied in Leviticus 26:33 “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” It’s a leadership failure of Y’hoshua who didn’t have a plan for succession like his mentor and previous leader Moshe did! It was a seamless transition of power shift from Moshe to Y’hoshua as the latter had been Moshes faithful and loyal #2 for 40 years! Y’hoshua failed to do the same. The result is both a collective memory loss and rebellion:
 
Judges 2:8-11.  When Y'hoshua the son of Nun, the servant of ADONAI, died, he was 110 years old; 9 and they buried him near the boundary of his property in Timnat-Heres, in the hills of Efrayim, north of Mount Ga'ash. 10 When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither ADONAI nor the work he had done for Isra'el. 11 Then the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and served the ba'alim.

So, by now I’m sure you’re beginning to wonder how I came this far starting out talking about the cycles of life? As Nehemiah shared, we begin to see a cycle develop of what Israel experienced without strong, sound biblical based moral leadership:

Judges 2:18-19. When ADONAI raised up judges for them, ADONAI was with the judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies throughout the lifetime of the judge; for ADONAI was moved to pity by their groaning under those oppressing and crushing them. 19 But after the judge died, they would relapse into worse behavior than that of their ancestors, following other gods to serve and worship them; they abandoned none of their practices or stubborn ways.

How bad did this repetitive cycle become for Israel without leadership? Complete Chaos:
 
Judges 21:25 (TLV). In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
 
We see a parallel path with this cycle and our own nation today. The book of Judges provides a vivid account of interspersed cycles of Strong, Godly leaders then periods with no leaders over time coupled with depraved, sinful human behavior which is rebellion against Adonai! Judges describe a cyclical pattern that is repeated over again and again and again! Here's the pattern:
 
Rebellion:  When things go well (Post WW-II America enjoyed one of the greatest periods of peace and prosperity ever recorded in history, Post Vietnam with President Regan we experienced great prosperity and peace through the 1990’) people drop their guard and cease praying and seeking Adonai.  Peace time brings a greater chance of rebellion than wartime.  This proved true with the 60's rebellion against all authority. AS the 90’s ended we experienced 9/11 and even more in our current state! Both times before our, Israel’s, removal and exile from the land it was our most prosperous!
 
Repression: Repression follows rebellion.  Whether God sends an enemy or people cause their own misery (America is currently suffering both right now) they endure tyranny, hardship, calamity, invasion, natural disasters, shortages, division, social unrest, terror attacks like the foes of Retzin in Isaiah 9.  Poor life choices result in Judgment and retribution.
 
Repentance: Extreme hardships often trigger community wide repentance which leads to awakenings, revival, moves of Adonai.  Individuals begin to refocus on what's really important and purify their motives and behavior.  Nations see economic downturns, cut budgets, downsize, and check egos. This is the period we need to be entering into as a nation!
 
Restoration:  Purification leads to restoration.  When people begin to obey God once again, peace and prosperity returns to the land once more-Erine-Shalom, a state of national tranquility!
 
The cycle of fallen human behavior has run its full course and is doomed to repeat itself. It can be turned around by submission and obedience! Adonai has a solution for rebellion. There is a deep profound scripture that states:
 
Psalm 37:3-6. Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. 4 Then you will delight (anag {aw-nag'}: to be soft, pliable) yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire. 5 Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
 
If you will be pliable in His hands, if you allow God to mold your heart, and do with you, in you and through you what He wants to do, then He will give you the desires of your heart! Trust, obey, and submit unto Him and He will act! Remember Shmuel’s words in I Samuel 15 "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams.” Adonai takes more pleasure in your obedience, and submission then religion, rituals, and rebellion-the three “R’s” that cause His presence to depart!! In doing so we break these repetitive rebellion cycles and dwell in His presence!!
 
Blessings and Shalom,
 
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
    

Shalom Mishpocha,

        May is here! May is likely named after the Roman goddess Maia in Latin, who oversaw the growth of plants. May marks spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the United States (Memorial Day). May acts as the bridge between spring and summer, hinting at warmer weather for those still stuck in spring’s grasp while heating things up for those already well on their way.

May is A.A.P.I Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jewish American Heritage month! Monday, May 5th, 2025, is Cinco de Mayo, an annual celebration held on May 5th to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. Zaragoza died months after the battle from an illness, however, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and then occupied Mexico City. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception.

May 10th is Mother’s Day, don’t forget! Make plans to show your love and appreciation for your mother! May 16 is Armed Forces Day, which honors those who serve in all branches of the United States military.

        At the end of this month, we celebrate Memorial Day on Monday May 25th, 2026. Memorial Day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

        Memorial Day is the start of summer for some, time to picnic for others, a three day weekend for all but it is a day to remember those who have fallen for freedom, those who have given their life, who have spilled their blood upon the roots of the of the Patriot Tree to defend and preserve this Republic and liberate oppressed people around the world! The Patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree,” penned by Revolutionary War era poet Thomas Campbell, pays tribute to the soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War with these powerful words that serve as reminders for us today that we would not have the freedoms we hold dear were it not for the sacrifice of our country’s patriots.

What we remember—and honor—on Memorial Day is heroic sacrifice. We acknowledge those who nobly gave of themselves, even unto death, for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves. Since the days just following the end of the Civil War, Americans have gathered in late May to honor those who died in military service to their country. In the spirit of the day, we can also recall, honor, and pray for all those we know who have lived lives of service and sacrifice for the good of others. As President Ronald Reagan once said:
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.   –President Ronald Reagan in an address to the annual meeting of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, (30 March 1961)

We pray you have a meaningful and blessed month of May!

Blessings!
 
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Carlson

Israel has a long history of being attacked and persecuted by the area today called Iran! Iran is mentioned way back in Genesis, known then as Shinar. Noach had three sons-Shem, Ham, and Yefet. Ham fathered Kush, Kush fathered Nimrod;
 
Genesis 10:8-10. Kush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful ruler on earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before ADONAI- this is why people say, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before ADONAI." 10 His kingdom began with Bavel, Erekh, Akkad and Kalneh, in the land of Shin'ar.
 
Tradition identifies Nimrod as the ruler who commissioned the construction of the Tower of Babel which led to his reputation as a rebellious king who was against God. Shin’ar or Bavel had a lengthy history of various rulers which soon encompassed the entire land of Shin’ar. Like the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the nation divided who had numerous names used for them such as Shomron, Ephraim, Israel, Northern Kingdom etc. The same holds true for Shin’ar. Bavel’s most notorious ruler was N'vukhadnetzar.
 
Daniel 1:1-2. In the third year of the reign of Y'hoyakim king of Y'hudah, N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel came to Yerushalayim and laid siege to it; 2 and Adonai handed Y'hoyakim king of Y'hudah over to him, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He took them to the land of Shin'ar, to the house of his god and placed the articles in the storehouse of his god.
 
This passage marks the fall of Judah as a result of our idolatry and rebellion against Adonai. This resulted in Jerusalem and the Temple being sacked and our people exiled to Babylon which would last 70 years as Jeremiah prophesied! During our captivity the Babylonian empire fell. The Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, marking the total defeat of the Babylonian Empire. The Persian king Cyrus the Great captured Babylon in October 539 BCE. With the success of Cyrus' campaign, Babylonia was incorporated into the Persian realm as a province. The capital of Persia is Shushan!  A critical place regarding Israel’s history that is in current day Iran. Here is where we find profound revelation, a mystery revealed regarding this region!
 
Daniel 10:11-13. He said to me, "Dani'el, you are a greatly loved man. Now pay attention to the words I am saying to you, and stand upright; for it is to you that I have been sent now." After he had said this to me, I stood up, trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Don't be afraid, Dani'el; because since the first day that you determined to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard; and I have come because of what you said. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia prevented me from coming for twenty-one days; but Mikha'el, one of the chief princes, came to assist me; so that I was no longer needed there with the kings of Persia.
 
The prince of Persia is only mentioned here in Daniel chapter ten, which is a highly apocalyptic section of Daniel. The prince of Persia is a demonic spiritual entity, a fallen angel, that is a principality, an authority over this geographical area that is today Iran. These principalities and powers are demonic strongholds of demonic activity. These beings are real, and their primary goal is to kill, injure, worry, destroy, vex, harass, irritate, confuse, and frustrate humans. We truly don’t understand the complexity and breadth of the ongoing spiritual warfare! As we stream towards the end of time it will get worse!
 
The goal of these principalities is to cause as much damage to humans as Adonai will allow. These beings are a part of the kingdom of darkness, fallen angels that were kicked out of heaven with HaSatan. Remember Peter’s warning in I Peter 5:8: “Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.  Their demonic purpose is to hinder or thwart the purposes of Adonai on earth and to take as many people as possible with them to hell in the process. Clearly their number one target is Israel which is why this principality boarders Israel.
 
These principalities cover geographical territories. Their presence is felt in cities. Some cities may have a principality of murder hovering over it, many have a hindrance principality operating in their region. Other cities have antisemitic, racist, or sexual perversion principalities. Unfortunately, there are too many demonic spirits of principalities to name them all here.
 
We read of Yeshua casting out a demon in Luke 8. He cast legions (numerous demons) out of a possessed man who had been oppressed and harassed for a long time! The demons pleaded with Yeshua on where their destination would be after they were cast out of their host. They wanted to remain in the area and begged Him to cast them into the swine.
 
Luke 8:31-32. They begged Yeshua not to order them to go off into the Bottomless Pit. 32 Now there was a herd of many pigs, feeding on the hill; and the demons begged him to let them go into these. So he gave them permission.
 
It’s imperative to understand that in the name of Yeshua, HaSatan and his demons must obey, they must flee. This also means over a principality. HaSatan is not like Adonai, he isn’t omniscient, all-knowing, or omnipotent, all powerful. Yet we need assistance to overcome them, like the prophet Daniel who had received a troubling vision concerning a great war in Daniel 10:1. He went into a three-week period of fasting and prayer. In response to Daniel’s prayer, Adonai sends a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed for those same 21 days, as he explained to Daniel 10:13: “The prince of the kingdom of Persia prevented me from coming for twenty-one days; but Mikha'el, one of the chief princes, came to assist me”.
 
Daniel, a prophet and man of God, had been sent a messenger by Adonai because he needed assistance to break through this principality, this demonic stronghold over the region. Later, the messenger speaking to Daniel predicts further fighting:
 
Daniel 10:20-21. Then he said, "Do you know why I came to you? Although now I must return to fight the prince of Persia; and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come; 21 nevertheless, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. There is no one standing with me against them except Mikha'el your prince;
 
These principalities, Persia and, Greece, are fallen angels who have authority, stronghold, and influence over this geographical area. Daniel is fasting and praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. The demonic disruption makes sense, as the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire. The angelic messenger is assisted by the archangel Michael, who is the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm.
 
Then the angelic messenger says he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. After that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece. We know from history and as prophesied in Daniel that Greece would be the next world power after Persia, and that Greece (Alexander the Great) would conquer Persia and dominate Israel for a season. This sets the stage for the Hanukkah story where Antiochus Epiphanes tried to destroy all Jewish culture and identity! In this passage, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the prince of Persia, the prince of Greece, and the prince of Israel; Michael. Sha’ul understood this spiritual structure and told us in:
 
Ephesians 6:12. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.
 
This spiritual battle against these principalities is real. We have another profound example: Purim! The story of Esther, Hadasa takes place in the Persian capitol of Shushan! Haman is introduced as an enemy of Mordecai and the Jewish people:
 
Esther 3:5–6. “Haman was furious when he saw that Mordekhai was not kneeling and bowing down to him. 6 However, on learning what people Mordekhai belonged to, it seemed to him a waste to lay hands on Mordekhai alone. Rather, he decided to destroy all of Mordekhai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole of Achashverosh's kingdom.”
Haman’s goal was the genocide of the Jewish people, becoming the opponent of Esther and her people in the book of Esther. Haman was an Agagite, the son of Hammedatha. Haman was a descendent of Agag, king of the Amalekites, a long-time enemy of the Jewish people. God had told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites centuries earlier:
 
I Samuel 15:3. Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
 
King Saul failed to obey God’s specific command. His disobedience led to the loss of his throne and, in Esther’s case, the possible threat of total annihilation for all the Jewish people. Hamas’s tactics are exactly like those of the Amalekites. The Amalekites loath Israel, a people whose pagan way of life, values, and military tactics are in direct opposition to Adonai’s commands, purpose, love, and sanctity for human life.
 
Deuteronomy 25:17-18. (NIV)  Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
 
Amalekite raiders attacked Ziklag (in the Negev Region of Southern Israel-the same areas of Hamas attack on Oct 7th) when David and his mighty men were marching with the Philistines to fight Saul, when only women and children were present (I Sam. 30:2–3). Unlike David who had everyone and everything restored, Hamas murders, tortured, raped, and destroyed!
 
Haman in Persia conspired to enlist the power of Achashverosh’s empire to exterminate the exiled Jews who were powerless to defend themselves. Amalekites specifically targeted women, children, and the weak.
 
Some note that Hamas’s stated goal in its 1988 charter is to “destroy the Jews” and that it has carried out mass attacks on Jewish communities, such as the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel. This has led some to see Hamas as a modern-day “Haman” in the sense of being a violent, antisemitic adversary to the Jewish people.
 
These demonic spiritual principalities are still in existence and are present in the prophetic future! Babylon, Persia, Shin’ar….all the same:
 
Zechariah 5. Again I raised my eyes, and I saw in front of me a flying scroll. 2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a flying scroll thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide. 3 Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of all the land; for [according to what is written] on one side, everyone who steals will be swept away; and [according to what is written] on the other side, everyone who swears will be swept away. 4 'I will release it,' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot, 'and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name; it will stay there inside the house and consume it completely, even its timbers and stones.'" 5 Then the angel speaking with me went forward and said to me, "Now raise your eyes, and see what this thing is, passing by." 6 I asked, "What is it?" He said, "This is the eifah-measure [a one-bushel dry-measure] passing by." Then he added, "This is their eye in all the land." 7 Next I saw a lead disc lifted up to reveal a woman sitting in the eifah. 8 He said, "This is Evil." He threw her down into the eifah and pressed the lead weight over its opening. 9 I raised my eyes and saw two women coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like those of a stork. They lifted the eifah up between the earth and the sky. 10 I asked the angel speaking with me, "Where are they taking the eifah?" 11 He answered me, "To build it a shrine in the land of Shin'ar. When it's ready, [the eifah] will be set down there on its base."
 
Zechariah sees a scroll with roughly the same measurements as the tabernacle flying through the land. It has writing on both sides.  The purpose of the scroll was to curse the land of those who swear and steal. Swearing and stealing are probably summary terms for the two halves of the law. The first half, swearing, refers to sins against God and second half, stealing, refers to sins against man. You don’t get away with sin. God sees it and will purge the land.  To me personally this thing that looks like a flying scroll could be describing a modern Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (I.C.B.M.) missile!  
 
Zechariah sees an ephah or commercial measuring device which further confirms the sinfulness of the nations and the need for judgment. The description of the woman - she is the personification of evil, so he slams the lid back down on the basket.  Lead lined, a nuclear warhead?  Two women with wings come and fly away (aircraft or a cruise missile) with the basket and put it in Shinar on a pedestal. The pedestal may refer to being set up high for the purpose of worship or a launching pad, or both.
 
The grand Mullah of Iran (Sponsor of Hezbollah and the trainers of the last Hamas attack, as well as Hezbollah and the Houthis) himself, said there is no peaceful Islam or radical Islam, there is just Islam and it’s been this was since Muhammad created it 1,200 years ago.  It is an evil, demonic religion based upon terror, oppression, brutality, hatred, and deception. It’s the result of the principality over the region. Iranian aggression is a threat to Israel from Hezbollah with its destabilization of Lebanon, its role in the Syrian war, the civil war in Yemen, the attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea , the Straits of Hormuz, sand trikes against US airbases in Iraq, and more. Iran is a threat to the entire Middle East, Europe, and the United States!  The motive is to make Iran (The Prince of Persia Spirit) the dominant regional power, capable of imposing its demonic will on others, and its aggression is a response to both the strength and weakness of its enemies and rivals.
 
Her is the root understanding, the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam. Sunnis Muslims are Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and most of Iraq. Shiites are mostly in Iran. The primary distinction between Sunni and Shia Muslims lies in their views on leadership. Sunnis accept a broader interpretation of leadership, allowing for leaders from various backgrounds, while Shia Muslims believe that only descendants of Muhammad through his cousin Ali should lead the community.
 
In Shi'a Islam, the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is believed to be in a state of "occultation" or hiding, and will eventually return as the Mahdi (is a messianic figure in Islamic belief) to establish justice on earth. This belief is central to Twelver Shi'a doctrine, with the 12th Imam considered alive and hidden until his reappearance. They believe the al-Mahdi returns when the world is in chaos which is why Iran is shooting missiles at all their neighbors and why they seek nuclear weapons! They seek world war and chaos to herald the Mahdi’s return.
 
As divine, prophetic events play out on earth, there is also corresponding activity in the spiritual realm. The Prince of Persia’s is hostile to the people of God. His job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he’s still trying but failing. It is interesting to note that Iran is modern Persia, and the leaders of Iran still want to dominate or obliterate the nation of Israel.
 
The demonic spirit of Persia, Babylon (the names change but the spirit is the same!) was in Sodom and Gomorrah, in Nazi Germany, is in North Korea, and Iran! It runs drug cartels and human trafficking, in Islam it runs and trains Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis through school curriculum for students from kindergarten through graduate school, is architecting political platforms and cultural narratives in everything from movies to television shows, the internet, and causing social media trends. No one, nothing, and no place is immune from the demonic influence of the spirit of this principality.
 
Throughout our history since the days of Moses, we as the Jewish people have endured numerous, similar persecutions. The name of the oppressor has varied. It's been called “Purim”, "Inquisition," "Pogroms," "Holocaust" and "Jihad."  The Haman spirit has had numerous names as well such as Pharaoh, Amalekites, Antiochus Epiphanies, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mahmoud Abbas, and Yehya Sinwar. The good news is there has always been someone willing to swim upstream and stand in the gap against aggression, hate, and persecution!  Every generation has its Mordecai!
 
The enemy, HaSatan knows this!  That’s why from Pharaoh murdering the Israeli male newborns in Egypt to Haman in Purim, from the Inquisition to the Pogroms, and then Yom HaShoa, the Holocaust, and now the modern-day insidious Jihad Attack on October 7th, 2023. HaSatan’s plan has remained unchanged which is to eradicate our Jewish people, break Adonai’s covenant promises with us, thereby rendering His word and promise null and void which would mean HaSatan wins! We know biblically this shall never happen, yet HaSatan is unable, incapable of devising any other plan! Let me add another aspect to this. Yeshua Himself made a prophetic covenant promise in:

Matthew 23:37-39. Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! 38 Look! God is abandoning your house to you, leaving it desolate 39 For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI.'"

This is a critical understanding of the “End times”! We know from various scriptures that Yeshua will return a second time to judge all humanity then establish His kingdom upon this earth (Matthew 24:36-42, Luke 21:25, John 14:2-3, I Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 11:15). The enemy knows this very well, even better than most believers! Every demonic principality will do everything in their range of possibility to thwart Yeshua’s return! This is what it’s all really about, the chosen people and the promise land but Adonai knows:
 
Deuteronomy 11:12. It is a land ADONAI your God cares for. The eyes of ADONAI your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

It is important to note that behind Babylon and Persia is the demonic spirit of Babylon. Adonai created a Kingdom that is called His bride. HaSatan created a counterfeit kingdom that is called Persia, Babylon, the “mother of prostitutes” (Revelation 17:5). The spirit of Babylon is at work in every nation and generation. For this reason, the book of Revelation is intertwined with the book of Daniel as they both have prophecies regarding the end of human history and establishment of the Messianic Reign with the Second Coming of Yeshua. Long after the nation of Babylon and Persia had ceased to exist, Revelation reveals that the demonic principality spirit remains at work:
 
Revelation 18:2-4. He cried out in a strong voice, "She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel the Great! She has become a home for demons, a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean, hated bird. 3 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of God's fury caused by her whoring - yes, the kings of the earth went whoring with her, and from her unrestrained love of luxury the world's businessmen have grown rich." 4 Then I heard another voice out of heaven say: "My people, come out of her! so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not be infected by her plagues,

Bavel in the Greek is Babylon: The original capital of Babylon, means confusion, the city that Persian king Cyrus conquered which then became Persia, also an allegory to Rome, a corrupt seat of idolatry, or the enemy of God. A symbolic name for those which took the place of ancient Babylon as a persecuting power.
 
So, who is Iran? It’s a demonic principality “The Prince of Persia”, it’s N'vukhadnetzar, It’s Haman, it’s the Amalekites, Its Antiochus Epiphanes, it’s Hamas, it’s a spirit of confusion, a persecuting power that seeks Israel and our people’s destruction and genocide, possibly even a prophetic nuclear bomb as referenced in Zechariah 5! The destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 17! Western powers and their decision-makers continue to espouse Peaceful Islam while tackling Islamophobia, the reality is quite different, they seek our annihilation.
 
The driving ideology behind Hamas's murderous intent is exemplified by the "Doomsday Clock" located in Palestine Square, Tehran, Iran. Inaugurated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2017, the clock counts down the time towards Israel's anticipated destruction in 2040. They are not engaged in a sprint, they are in a marathon to destroy Israel! Iran's barrage of missiles and drones that are still being launched at Israel, and upon Iran’s surrounding Arab neighbors is presumably another step toward fulfilling that destructive intent. The attacks won’t stop!
 
Iran, as well as its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and terror proxies of Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others -- are actors in the frontline of the intended annihilation of the Jewish people first, then all other unbelievers. This is why both the United States of America and Israel must continue the fight until the threat is eliminated!
 
 
Blessings and Shalom,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

The Feast Day cycle follows a pattern of seven.  Seven in Hebrew is Sheva and is represented by the letter Zain.  Seven (Sheva) is the central key to God’s design, Sheva is the building blocks of the universe.  The world was created in Sheva (seven) days.  There are Sheva (seven) feasts of the Lord in the annual feast day cycle.  There are Sheva (seven) days in the week.  There is the shenat ha-sheva, the seventh year or Sabbatical year in which the ground is to lay fallow.  Sheva shabtot shanim-seven sabbatical years are counted (49 years) which bring in the Yovel, the Jubilee on the 50th year!  All of creation streams towards the Sheva Millennia, the seventh thousand year which heralds the Messianic age.  Sheva is also woven into biblical culture and lifestyle:
 
There are the shivat ha-minim, seven spices of the land of Israel found in Deut.8:8.  Sheva berakhot), seven blessings of marriage are recited under the Chupah, Sevah (seven) pairs of each clean animal were taken onto Norah’s ark.  Sheva is the number of days it took the priests to be purified before they could enter into the Temple on the eighth day.  Sheva (seven) is the number of creation and is the numbers of perfection.  
 
Seven feasts of the annual cycle are primarily covered in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29.:
 
Leviticus 23:1-2. ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Tell the people of Isra'el: 'The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are my designated times.

Convocation in Hebrew is Mikra (calling out of the holy ones) who's root word is Kaw-raw which means rehearsal. Divine Appointment in Hebrew is Moed, a specific date in which the King of heaven comes off the throne to meet His people.  
 
Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost in Greek, is also referred to in Hebrew as: Z'man mattan torateinu - "The Season of the Giving of the Torah."

Leviticus 23:15-17. "'From the day after the day of rest (Shabbat) -that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving -you are to count seven full weeks, 16 until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to ADONAI. 17 You must bring bread from your homes for waving-two loaves made with one gallon of fine flour, baked with leaven -as first fruits for ADONAI.

Shavuot is the commemoration of the divine revelation of God’s oracles given at Mt. Sinai which is the fulfillment of the Passover Experience.  Passover's Freedom isn't experienced until Mt Sinai with the revelation of God and His word unto Israel and all the nations.  Until Mt Sinai God only spoke to Moshe!  Now all Israel will hear God’s voice!  It was at Mt. Sinai that Israel (and the mixed crowd) entered into a free will covenantal, marriage betrothal with God.  1,700 years after the first My Sinai experience the Ruach HaKodesh(Holy Spirit) is given on the same Moedim. When Adonai declared His covenant before Israel and all the nations at Mt Sinai, He established a covenant a promise with a caveat on our part:
 
Exodus 19:5. Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure (Segulaw: possession, property, valued property, peculiar treasure, treasure from among all the peoples) for all the earth is mine;
 
For us to be His special treasure, His first fruits among the nations we must pay careful attention to His covenant, to His word! Yeshua referenced this promise of God in a parable:
 
Matthew 13:44-46.  "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure (thesauros {thay-sow-ros'}: place in which good and precious things are collected, place in which valuables are kept, a treasury, wealth, collected treasures- Segulaw) hidden in a field. A man (anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}: generically all human individuals both male and female, conformed to the nature of God joined with words) found it, hid (krupto {kroop'-to}: conceal, hide, to cover) it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought (agorazo {ag-or-ad'-zo}: purchased, redeemed) that field. 45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant (emporos {em'-por-os} anthropos, Emporos: on a journey for trade, a tradesman, a merchant Anthropos) on the lookout for fine pearls (margarites {mar-gar-ee'-tace}: pearl, a proverb, i.e. a word of great value).  46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought (agorazo {ag-or-ad'-zo}: purchased, redeemed) it.

Yeshua is referencing Exodus 19:5 here, talking about discovering a hidden treasure, God’s word, His Torah, and redeeming it!  The treasure required a kinsman redeemer, Yeshua is that redeemer, He redeemed the treasure hidden in the field, and the pearl, a word of great value, symbolically representing Jew and Gentile, the treasure is the “One New Man, the Field is Israel and the Pearls are the nations (Gentiles) and He redeemed both of them 2,000 years ago.
 
We see in this passage as in the two leavened loaves of bread given as the wave offering that creation is a blessing in diversity. Leaven is forbidden in offerings any other sacrifice or Moedim but is required at Shavuot!  Why leavened bread? When the Shavuot first-fruits offering is taken from the field it represents both the provision and blessing of Adonai, He provided everything needed to grow the wheat.  It also represents man who works the soil and through his stewardship of the field he harvests the wheat, winnows the grain, and makes the bread by adding leaven.
 
This interaction of covenant relationship, man working with God’s provision explains the leaven in the wheat.  Wheat cannot become bread without the addition of yeast, yet, the yeast if left unattended will consume and destroy the entire loaf unless the leavened dough is baked at the appropriate resulting in bread that sustains and nourishes life.  
 
Creation was formed with this paradox of duality, of diversity that represents the relationship between humanity and God!  Creation is blessed, it flourishes and prospers in the harmony and unity of its diversity.  Heaven and earth, good and evil, land and sea, night and day, male and female, the only two people groups God created, Jew and Gentile.  These examples reveal great diversity and differences yet in their relational cooperation, harmony, and unity, the world and its inhabitants are blessed and proper.  
 
Without the inherent differences between male and female there would be no propagation of humankind.  Humanity thrives and propagates because we are physically different!  All creation is blessed in its relationship of diversity:  Heaven produces light and rain that the earth receives allowing plants to grow and produce fruit which in turn sustains humanity.  Contrary to politically correctness humanity would cease to exist as a homosexual society, procreation ceases-unnatural in disharmonious!  
 
Many victories depend on our overcoming some of these differences such as overcoming evil and sin with holiness and righteousness.  God gave us His Torah, His word, His instructions so that if we live according the commands and mitzvahs of God, if we follow and abide by them we will be His special treasure from among all of His creation, blessed and victorious!  We experience Shalom within the diversity of His creation:

Leviticus 26:3-6. "'If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land -you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land.
 
Here is the first key of understanding the life changing principle of Shavuot:  When God's commands and mitzvahs are observed and acted upon, not just head knowledge or awareness, but actually observing and celebrating the Feast Days, nature, Gods' creation correspondingly reacts in Shalom.  Creation is undisturbed, it’s at peace!  A perfect balance between humanity and God's creation.  But when human beings altar this balance with moral and social corruption, by departing from His commands and mitzvah’s creation itself becomes unstable which is exactly what Leviticus 26 stated.  This biblically explains the unusual weather patterns we are experiencing here and around the world.  God's order is being thwarted through humanities unbiblical interaction with Israel and unbiblical morality which results in disharmony with His creation.  It’s not Global warming changing our environment, Its sin and evil!
 
Scripture also reveals a supernatural Power and Shalom in the unity between Jew and Gentile.  There is a hidden mystery recorded in Leviticus 23.
 
Leviticus 23:22.  "'When you harvest the ripe crops produced in your land, don't harvest all the way to the corners of your field, and don't gather the ears of grain left by the harvesters; leave them for the poor and the foreigner (Ger: sojourner, a temporary inhabitant, foreigners in Israel conceded rights) I am ADONAI your God.'"
 
God provisioned in His written word a place for the Gentile, the nations in the original promise to the Jewish people, the One New Man has been His plan all along. But one has to open their eyes and see.  The story of Ruth, a gentile Moabite woman is a Shavuot Story.  Why?  Leviticus 23:22.  The edges of the fields are not harvested.  The blessings are left for the poor and Foreigner, the Gehr!  The non-Jew who is following the God of Israel therefore conceded rights!  When Ruth's Jewish husband died Naomi told her to go home to her own Moabite people, three times, but Ruth knew better:
 
Ruth 1:16-17. But Rut said, "Don't press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. May ADONAI bring terrible curses on me, and worse ones as well, if anything but death separates you and me."
 
Ruth powerfully and graphically reveals several things here.  First her profound words to Naomi define and establish the Gentile (Church’s) call and relationship to Israel!  Second, Ruth’s story isn’t just about supporting, standing with, and loving Israel!  The result of Ruth’s covenant promise is a wedding which results in a birth!  Oved, who begot Ishi, who begot King David who was the man after Adonai’s own heart!  Adonai established King David’s throne and rule forever, preparing for the coming Messiah who would be of the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah-establishing David’s throne forever:
 
II Samuel 7:16. Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you; your throne will be set up forever.'"
 
Then, 2,000 years ago in Shavuot the Ruach is released, issuing forth another marriage between Jew and Gentile bring forth another birth.
 
The first Encounter with God atop My Sinai in Exodus 19-20 is references as a wedding event where God proposed to Israel.  The fire and smoke over Mt Sinai are a representation of the Chuppah, a staple of every biblical wedding.  The Chuppah is reminiscent of Ruth's saying to Boaz "spread your robe over your handmaid.", a profound representation of the Kinsman redeemer and marriage of Jew and Gentile.
 
Torah is Adonai’s marriage proposal to Israel outlining His responsibilities with the bride’s vow of faithfulness, loyalty, and obedience.  When it was presented to Israel, they replied in unity:

Exodus 24:7. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, "Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do and obey. (Naase VeNishma’: Na'aseh: We will do, accomplish, act, place into effect. v’nishma: obey, be obedient, observe and comply. Root word is Shema: hear, listen, understand) "

‘Naase VeNishma’.  This reply given by Israel embodies a profound secret that only a few Hebrew scholars and now you understand.  N'ase is from the root Oseh, from O'seh Shalom Bimrumov--Oseh means do. Adding the nun makes it plural; N'ase we will do.  Same with Sh'ma. V'Nishma is Sh'ma with the nun added making it plural so the heart and essence of the Sh'ma and what Israel answered to God upon hearing God's proposal was that we, Israel, would accept Torah, Adonais ketubah before knowing what it was all about!  We accepted the proposal though we weren’t really in full comprehension or understanding of what it entailed!  Just like when you got married!  NO one really knows what they are getting into in marriage until they’ve been married a number of years!  It’s on ongoing and growing relationship!  Just like our relationship with Adonai!
 
The essence and heart of ‘Naase VeNishma’, of being Echad, Yachad with Adonai is to receive and obey without understanding.  This is the heart of Torah, of Yeshua's message, of Shavuot!  It’s the recipe for victory in the Kingdom! When you come into the covenant of marriage your echad, Yachad, but your not in full comprehension or understanding of each other!  That takes a lifetime which still isn’t enough time!!
 
The story of Ruth reveals a profound marriage understanding between Jew and Gentile which occurred on Shavuot 2,000 years ago. Naomi the Jewish mother gave Ruth the Gentile daughter specific instructions and Ruth answered in Ruth 3:5- "I will do everything you tell me” Na’ase VeNishma, Ruth complied without fully understanding!!
 
Ruth 3:7-9. After Bo'az was through eating and drinking and was feeling good, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of grain. She stole in, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night the man was startled and turned over, and - there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 He asked, "Who are you?" and she answered, "I'm your handmaid Rut. Spread your robe over your handmaid, because you are a redeeming kinsman."
 
Boaz is the Jewish kinsman redeemer, wrapping his tallit around Ruth the Moabite Gentile and marries Her!  He spreads his Tallit over and around her in the covenant act of matrimony. They enter into Nisuin and the barren Ruth conceives and gives birth to a child which is the beginning of the Messianic thread that leads directly to Messiah Yeshua:

Ruth 4:17. The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, "A son has been born to Na'omi," and called it 'Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.

2,000 years ago Adonai sent the Jewish Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua to wrap His tallit around Israel and the Gentiles!  His death tore down the middle wall of partition making Jew and Gentile one!  After His ascension 40 days after His resurrection the 120 were waiting in the upper when the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit fell upon them with a mighty roar and what looked like tongues of fire separated and came to rest upon the heads of each one of them!
 
Acts 2:17-21. 'ADONAI says: "In the Last Days, I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my slaves, both men and women, will I pour out from my Spirit in those days; and they will prophesy. 19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and signs on the earth below blood, fire and thick smoke. 20 The sun will become dark and the moon blood before the great and fearful Day of ADONAI comes. 21 And then, whoever calls on the name of ADONAI will be saved”

This First Shavuot at Mt Sinai betrothed Israel unto Adonai!  The second Shavuot experience 2,000 years ago through Yeshua betrothed the Gentiles unto Adonai!  Releasing the Ruach HaKodesh so we could live, walk, and move in unity, in one accord, Echad, unity between Jew and Gentile!  The first Shavuot eventually resulted in Boaz Marrying Ruth which brought us the Yeshua!  The second Shavuot outpouring eventual birthed the Messianic Community!  The body of Messiah who is now preparing for the Grooms return and Nisuin!
 
This is exactly what Yeshua was sharing in Matthew 13, His great great, great, great, grandmother, Ruth, was a Gentile Moabite woman who unified, aligned, and submitted herself not just with the world God, but with God’s chosen people.  She CAME OUT OF MOAB as Israel came out of Egypt and experienced a God encounter with her redeemer just as each and every one of us have who receive Yeshua!  She didn’t cleave to Moab or some Hellenistic, Babylonian religious system! She clove unto the God of Israel, she became obedient to Him and God honored her submission and loyalty by placing her in the lineage of Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah!  The heart of Shavuot is to come out of the world, to come out of bondage, to be united and victorious!  In fact, the word says, as it was in the beginning, so it will be in the end as we are told in the future:
 
Revelation 18:4.  Then I heard another voice out of heaven say: "My people, come out of her! so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not be infected by her plagues,
 
The future is today!  The calling rings true for Jew & Gentile alike, come out of Egypt, come out of Diaspora, come out of Babylon, come out of Greece, come out of Rome, come out of Hellenism My People!  This can only be completed through Jew & Gentile harmony, unity, and the POWER of God with the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit on Shavuot!  It is the source for Tikkun Olam, the salvation of the world!  Just as Gods promise of freedom from captivity is brought to fulfillment with the giving of His word, so is our salvation and redemption brought to fulfillment and infused with POWER with the Ruach HaKodesh.
 
Acts 2:1-4.  The festival of Shavu'ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

In Exodus 19 it was a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles who had departed Egypt who were standing before God at Mt Sinai and 2,000 years ago once again it was a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles who received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Shavuot that released the Dunamis POWER of God!!  The result? About 3,000 that day were added to their numbers!  Every encounter is marked by the people coming out of the world, out of Egypt, out of Babylon!  This is the foundation of Shavuot and is ours as well today!   Come out of her, come out of Babylon!  
 
Chag Shavuot Sameach!
 
 Rabbi Eric Carlson    

Shalom Mishpocha,

        April has arrived, bringing with it the promise of spring and new beginnings. It is a time of renewal, blooming flowers, and the warmth of the sun. As April unfolds, it invites us to embrace change, celebrate life, and reflect on the beauty of growth. Whether it's through gardening, enjoying nature, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the small joys of life, April is a month filled with possibilities and opportunities for self-discovery and personal growth in the Lord. April brings warmer temperatures!

The month of April gets its name from the Latin word “aperio”, meaning “to open [bud],” because plants are really beginning to grow and bud now. April 1st is “April Fools’ Day”. The Julien Calendar marked the New Year April 1st.  When Pope Gregory shifted to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, he moved the New Year to January 1st. Many continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st and thus were referred to as “April Fools” because they weren’t celebrating the New Year on January 1st. On a happy note, Tuesday, April 7th is National No Housework Day, enjoy!
 
The New Year is also upon us (5786)! We look forward with anticipation and expectation to restarting both the Biblical Calendar and the Annual Moedim (Feast Day) Cycle! Pesach (Passover) begins Tuesday evening, March 31st,2026 at sunset! The Festival of Matza begins Thursday April 1st, 2026 at sunset. Thursday April 2nd and Wednesday April 8th (the first and last day of Matzah) are no workdays!

In preparation for celebrating Pesach (Passover) it’s time for spring cleaning to get rid of the Leaven. Leavening in Hebrew is Hametz.  Leavening or Hametz is yeast. Contrary to Orthodox Judaism, Baking Soda and Baking Powder are not leavening agents! Yeast is alive, a fungi that is found in nature from spores and pollen. For Pesach (Passover) we are commanded to eat Matzah and not have hametz (yeast) in our homes for seven days.

As we are also in the biblical month of Nisan, it is also referred to as Chodesh ha-Yeshua, the "month of salvation".  This can be viewed and understood in both the physical and spiritual context. Physical: Israel was physically delivered from Slavery in Egypt in the month of Nisan. Spiritually: The Salvation for both Israel and the world from the slavery of sin occurred in the same month through the Messiah who was born on the 1st of Nisan, entered Jerusalem with the Passover Lambs on the 10th of Nisan, and was crucified on the 14th of Nisan! What’s revealed in all of this is a heavenly ordained Cycle of Time.  A never-ending repetitive, helical circle that is repetitive but not exactly identical!

Therefore, it’s quite clear to us that God see's this month, Aviv or Nisan as the Month of redemption or “Chodesh HaGeulah” in Hebrew. The Babylonian Talmud written in the Babylonian Diaspora or captivity gives a profound Messianic Statement over 400 years before the birth of Yeshua:  "In Nisan our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt and in Nisan we will be redeemed." This can be seen in the Hebrew language itself. The Hebrew word for "year" - shannah - shares the same Hebrew root as both the word "repeat" Shenen and the word "change" Sheenoo.

The “New Year" and Feast Day Cycle is one of "repetition" - mishnah (means to study by repetition and review, mishnah has the same root word "shanah). To Mishnah, to study, to review the history of Israel as recorded in scripture".  The years Moedim and feast day cycles are an all-inclusive "study and review" of the key historical and prophetic events of the redemptive history of Israel.  We repeat and relive these events to bring heavens pattern into our present world and lives to prepare and rehearse for the future!

The need to Shamor or guard the biblical new year and associated feasts and cycles becomes crystal clear.  The cycle is repetitive yet not identical from year to year as we stream towards the return of Messiah and the establishment of God's timeline upon the earth and all humanity!  The seed of redemption and salvation has already been sown, we need only study and review Adonai’s calendar to see what it will look like and when it will occur!

However you celebrate the month, let April be your invitation to step outside, embrace the change of season, and make the most of these bright and hopeful days! May His glory and presence powerfully be with you as you celebrate and keep Pesach (Passover).

Chag Sameach and Blessings,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson
 

We’ve recently been warned of possible Hezbollah sleeper cells in America attacking us from within as well as antisemitism’s continued rise!  April is a critical month for situational awareness and prayer! April has historically been a very trying month. Look at what has happened across the spans of time during the Month of April:
 
1st April 1933: Nazi Germany begins the persecution of German Jews by declaring a boycott of Jewish owned businesses

2nd April 1982: Argentina invaded the Falklands Islands, and quickly overcame the small garrison of British marines at the town of Stanley on East Falkland, this led to the Falklands Crisis

2nd April 1986: Bomb Explodes on TWA Boeing 727 tearing hole in the side of the aircraft which sucks four passengers including an eight-month old baby from the aircraft.

3rd April 2009: 14 killed in shooting rampage at Immigration Center in Binghamton, New York.

4th April 1916: 1918 France World War I Battle Of The Somme 4th April : One of the most costly battles in modern wartime is fought near the Somme Region which saw the deaths of over 1 million men from both sides of the war.
 
4th April 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. is shot to death by James Earl Ray at a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

4th April 2009: 3 Police Officers Killed and two seriously wounded in Pittsburgh PA as a man goes on a shooting rampage in a domestic dispute over a dog barking

5th April 1986: A bomb is exploded in the crowded La Belle disco in Berlin, Germany, killing two and injuring at least 120

7th April 1994: Civil War breaks out in Rwanda when Hutu extremists murder an estimated 800,000 innocent civilian Christian Tutsis in the worst episode of genocide since World War II,

10th April 2002: Eight Israelis are killed by a suicide bomber aboard a bus in Haifa.

12th April 1945: After serving as U.S. president for 12 years, Franklin D. Roosevelt the 32nd president of the United States died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia.

12th April 1994: A Bomb Exploded on a crowded bus in Israel Killing 6 people and wounding 25

14th April 1865: President Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth the first President of the Unites States assassinated.

15th April 1912: RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sinks

15th April 2013: Terrorists detonated two bombs near the finish line at the Boston Marathon killing three people and injuring more than 250.

15th April 2019: A fire started in the roof of the famous Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral and spread through the structure, destroying the 800-year-old church.

16th April 2007: Student Cho Hui goes on a killing spree at Virginia Tech killing a former girlfriend Emily Hilscher and her next-door neighbor Ryan Clark, and then shot to death 30 other students before taking his own life

17th April 2006: A Palestinian suicide bomber strikes a Tel Aviv restaurant during Passover, killing nine people

17th April 2025: The son of a sheriff's deputy, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. opened fire at Florida State University in Tallahassee killing two people and injuring six others.

18th April 1906: An earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, shook the town of San Francisco, California and Thirty thousand homes were either partially or wholly destroyed and an estimated 3,000 are reported dead.

18th April 1983: A Terrorist attack by a suicide bomber destroyed the United States Embassy in Beirut, The explosion killed 63 People

19th April 1993: An assault on the headquarters of the Branch Davidian sect near Waco, Texas ends in a deadly fire killing 70 cult members the cults leader David Koresh
 
19th April 1995: A truck full of explosives destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people.
 
20th April 1889: Adolph Hitler Born in Austria.
 
20th April 1999: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shoot and kill 13 people and wound 24 others at Columbine High School in Denver, Colorado.
 
20th April 2010: The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig was destroyed by an explosion and subsequent fire, 11 workers were killed and 17 others were injured in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
 
21st April 1989: 100,000 students gather at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to voice their discontent with China's authoritative communist government. This was the beginning of the mass demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.
 
24th April 1898: Spain declares war on the United States after rejecting America's ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba

26th April 1986: An explosion and fire at the No. 4 reactor of Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine resulted in a nuclear meltdown sending radioactivity into the atmosphere.

26th April 2002: Robert Steinhäuser goes on a shooting rampage at the Johann Gutenberg Gymnasium in Erfurt, Germany, killing 15

30th April 1945: Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide one day after they were married
 
There is a time and season for all things:
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1,8. For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven.

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
 
So then, why do so many horrible things happen in the Spring, even March and May, but particularly during the month of April?
 
I Chronicles 20:1. In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, Yo'av led the army out in force and laid waste to the country of the people of 'Amon; then he came and laid siege to Rabbah. But David stayed in Yerushalayim, while Yo'av attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.

Springtime is the season for war, when Kings go out to war.  As we look through history all nations would quietly winter their armies and relax until springtime in which Kings would go to war.  
 
The word speaks many things regarding war and the season of war.  The Oracles of God give us wisdom, and even tactics concerning war.  God tells us to sound the alarm and we’ll be remembered before Him:
 
Numbers 10:9. "When you go to war in your land against an adversary who is oppressing you, you are to sound an alarm with the trumpets; then you will be remembered before ADONAI your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
 
The Lord trains us for war, we are to train:

Psalms 18:34. He trains my hands for war until my arms can bend a bow of bronze;
 
Psalms 144:1-2.  By David: Blessed be ADONAI, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. 2 He shows me grace; and he is my fortress, my stronghold, in whom I find shelter, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.
We are not to fear:

Psalms 27:3. If an army encamps against me, my heart will not fear; if war breaks out against me, even then I will keep trusting.

II Timothy 1:7. (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
 
We are to wage war with strategy and wisdom:

Proverbs 24:6. For with clever strategy you wage your war, and victory comes from having many advisers.

We are warned not to receive bad things from our enemy:

Deuteronomy 23:9. "When you are in camp, at war with your enemies, you are to guard yourself against anything bad.

The Lord even allows us to taste battle so those that knew not war may learn and be trained:
 
Judges 3:1-2. These are the nations which ADONAI allowed to remain, in order to put to the test all the people of Isra'el who had not known any of the wars with Kena'an. 2 This was only so that the generations of Isra'el who had previously known nothing of war might learn about it.
 
The season of time is readily apparent to anyone who is awake and paying attention to the Spirit Realm. Even the secular world recognizes April as troublesome. They have denoted April as National Preparedness Month, a time for individuals and communities to plan ahead for potential disasters. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared for emergencies, including natural and man-made threats.
 
Understanding and studying past historical events enhances our grasp of the world, shedding light on geopolitical and kingdom complexities. It helps us see how past events influence the present and guides us in making informed decisions for the future. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Vigilance is a vital aspect of faith, as it encourages us to remain alert and attentive to our spiritual lives and surroundings. It requires us to be aware of temptations, recognizing the presence of HaSatan, while drawing near to and remaining connected to God!
 
Pray and remain vigilant!
 
Blessings,
 
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

The Feast Days cycle follows a pattern of seven and begins with Pesach.  Seven in Hebrew is Sheva and is represented by the letter Zain.  Seven (Sheva) is the central key to God’s design, Sheva is the building blocks of the universe.  The world was created in Sheva (seven) days.  There are Sheva (seven) feasts of the Lord in the annual feast day cycle.  There are Sheva (seven) days in the week.  There is the shenat ha-sheva, the seventh year or Sabbatical year in which the ground is to lay fallow which we are currently in!! 
 
Leviticus 23:1-3. ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Tell the people of Isra'el: 'The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are my designated times. 3 "'Work is to be done on six days; but the seventh day is a Shabbat of complete rest, a holy convocation; you are not to do any kind of work; it is a Shabbat for ADONAI, even in your homes.
 
Moedim, Divine appointments, Convocation in Hebrew is Mikra (calling out of the holy ones) who's root word is Kaw-raw which means rehearsal! We are to proclaim, guard, observe, and keep the Designated Times of Adonai! Shabbat is the First feast Day the begins the annual Feast Day cycle, Pesach is the second:  
 
Leviticus 23:5-8. "'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between sundown and complete darkness, comes Pesach for ADONAI. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the festival of matzah; for seven days you are to eat matzah. 7 On the first day you are to have a holy convocation; don't do any kind of ordinary work. 8 Bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work.'"
 
In preparation for this we cleanse our homes and rid them of S’or (Yeast) and Hametz. It is found numerous times in Torah, first in Exodus 12.
 
Exodus 12:15. "'For seven days you are to eat matzah - on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Isra'el.
 
The punishment for eating yeast or Leavened bread during the Festival of Unleavened Bread is “venichretah”, spiritual excision, cut off, cut down, to be eliminated from the greater house of Israel, to literally have one’s soul cut off from Israel. God gives a severe punishment for not submitting too and following His feasts, which, by the way most here already know that Adonai commands be done:
 
Exodus 12:17. You are to observe the festival of matzah, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day from generation to generation by a perpetual regulation.
 
Perpetual in the Hebrew is Olam which means forever, always, continuous existence, perpetual, everlasting, indefinite, and eternity! L’dor V’dor, generation to generation! So regardless of one’s religious theologies or doctrine, all who worship the God of Israel and acknowledge Yeshua’s death and resurrection (which transpired during Pesach and festival of Matzah (Unleavened Bread)) should be keeping and celebrating Pesach and Matzah. It’s one of the Ten Commandments:
 
Exodus 34:18,28. "Keep the festival of matzah by eating matzah, as I ordered you, for seven days during the month of Aviv; for it was in the month of Aviv that you came out from Egypt.

28 Moshe was there with ADONAI forty days and forty nights, during which time he neither ate food nor drank water. [ADONAI] wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words.     
 
These commands come after the construction and worship of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32, an illicit religious festival not commanded by Adonai. Adonai is reiterating, restating His Divine calendar of legitimate Feasts and related obligations in Exodus 34. He does not want illicit, illegitimate worship! He desires those who will worship Him according to His word, commands, and instructions. As Yeshua stated to the woman at the well in Shomron:
 
John 4:23. But the time is coming -- indeed, it's here now -- when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him.
 
Yeshua’s reference to “true worshippers” reveals that there are illegitimate, illicit worshipers who are not worshipping Adonai in Spirit and Truth! This season is a paradox for believers, two different holidays are being celebrated (Passover and Easter) yet, with great irony, were all using the same bible…..Luke 22 clearly records the truth. In the NKJV:
 
Luke 22:1. (NKJV) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.

Its explicitly clear that Yeshua’s death and resurrection is unfolding during the Feast of Pesach (Passover) and Matzah (unleavened bread).

Luke 22:7-8. (NKJV) Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."

If this isn’t clear enough, Yeshua then tells His Talmidim about preparing the place for their Passover Seder meal:
 
Luke 22:11. (NKJV) Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '
They weren’t eating a convicts last meal before a death sentence, they were celebrating and performing a Passover seder! It’s this very reason that we refer to Yeshua/Jesus as the Lamb of God! He is our Passover Lamb sacrifice! In Egypt Death passed over us one evening!  In Yeshua death Pesach/Passover us forever!
 
Luke 22:14-20. (NKJV) When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And He took bread (Artos: Water mixed with flour and baked-Shew Bread [Matzah]), gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
 
We will celebrate Pesach with Yeshua in the millennial reign! Fulfilled in the Greek in verse 16 is: Pleroo (play-ro'-o): to fulfil, to cause God' s will as made known in the Torah to be obeyed as it should be, and God' s promises given through the prophets to receive fulfilment, Correct interpretation. Many misinterpret these verses because they believe Torah, the law is no longer relevant or valid. However, Yeshua said He came to fulfill it, which does not mean it was lacking something but that the coming of the Messiah completed the picture. Torah now existed as God originally intended. As Sha’ul stated in Romans 7:7. the function of the Torah was that without it, I would not have known what sin is. For example, I would not have become conscious of what greed is if the Torah had not said, "Thou shalt not covet.
 
Yeshua’s death and resurrection becomes watered down when taken out of scriptural context then mixed with eggs, rabbits, and Easter which is never mentioned in scripture, not once. The King James translation in Acts 12:4 says King Herod arrested Kefa (Peter), put him in prison, planning to bring him before the people after Easter.  The Greek word is Pascha (Pesach/Passover). We must come to terms with Illicit worship so that worship of Adonai will be in Spirit and Truth, correctly reconciled to the word.
 
The Feast of Pesach/Matzah is a profound sign of our covenant relationship with Adonai, that’s why it’s one of His Ten Commandments. Pesach/Matzah defines our relationship with Adonai! To turn away from Adonai results in wandering and death in the wilderness! Rebellion keeps you from the promise. Everyone has free will, you can do whatever you want, you don’t have to do these things, one can choose to ignore Pesach/Matzah and Adonai’s commands but that choice comes with consequences, severe, negative consequences, called curses, the lack of blessings.  The choice of Obedience and submission also has consequences: blessings, success, and victory in everything that you do. 
 
In Yeshua we have been born again into an eternal, Kingdom life! Yeshua said, “I tell that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Our first birth gave us physical life; being born again gives us spiritual life and membership in Adonai’s family and Kingdom (John 1:13). To be born again is to have the Ruach HaKodesh transform our hearts from indifference and hostility toward God to a love of God and a desire for righteousness and holiness. The only way one can come to God and experience what it means to be “born again” is through repentance of sin and trust in the Lamb of God, Yeshua as your Passover Lamb sacrifice! That’s the purpose of this season, to be born again into a profound, intimate relationship with Adonai through Yeshua! New Beginnings, renewal!!! In this holiday season and new year what does Yeshua want YOU to do?
 
Mathew 10:6-8. but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Isra'el. 7 As you go, proclaim, `The Kingdom of Heaven is near,' 8 heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those afflicted with tzara'at, expel demons. You have received without paying, so give without asking payment.

Through the blood of Yeshua you are born again, transformed into the very the image of Adonai, from one degree of Glory to the next! Proclaiming the Kingdom and performing supernatural signs and wonders!! During Pesach the Holy One judged the gods of Egypt to bring us to freedom; a freedom to worship the One true King. The day will yet come when the tyrannical gods of the secular will also be judged. May the liberating power of His right hand again bring many multitudes back in alignment to His righteous authority.
 
Chag Pesach Sameach,
 
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Exodus 12:1-3. ADONAI spoke to Moshe and Aharon in the land of Egypt; he said, 2 "You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Speak to all the assembly of Isra'el and say, 'On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family, one per household.

The New Year and Calendar scripture includes the references for when to begin Pesach/Passover marks the start of the annual Feast Day cycle.  The spring renewal is the season of new beginnings and awakenings.  There is another significant event that occurred on this day in History:
 
Exodus 40:1-3.  ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "On the first day of the first month, you are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 3 Put in it the ark for the testimony, and conceal the ark with the curtain.
 
In ancient Israel from the first time the Tabernacle/Mishkan was erected through the time of the Second Temple the New Year was celebrated as God ordained on Nisan 1st.  
 
The First day of the New Year was when the Mishkan was set up and all Israel witnessed the transfer of God’s Glory, His Divine Presence, as experienced from afar, hovering over Mt Sinai, move to hovering over the Mishkan directly among the people.  This day for the fledgling nation of Israel is when God became personal, real, and up close.  To review:
 
Sanctuary in Hebrew is Mikdash which means Holy Place, Tabernacle which is Mishkan in Hebrew, and "Ohel Moed" (Tent is Ohel in Hebrew whose root word is Ohen the presentence of love- loves) Moed (divine meeting)" (God loves to have divine meetings with us) or Tent of Meeting.  The most commonly used term is Mishkan or Tabernacle whose root word (Shakan-dwell) is the same as Shekhinah which means divine presence in Hebrew which is also the same root word in Sukkah that are built during Sukkot.  Mish (feminine form of Who is like God) Mish'al is a request or petition of God while Mishl'ey is a form of wisdom-the Hebrew name of the Book of Proverbs.  The dwelling place or "Ohel Moed" (God loves divine appointments) is where we meet God's divine presences to seek His wisdom or at least to request it and petition God!
 
This is where is gets interesting as another word comes from this root grouping in Hebrew: Mishpocha-Family!  God loves divine meetings (Ohel Moed) with His family!  The family is being be restored in the time to come.  Root word also refers to Mishpocha or family-the family of David (who the sages view this as a Messianic Reference concerning Messiah) the Messiah will reign as we see that booth or Sukkah in Hebrew also share the same root word(Shakan).  Sukkah refers to the coming Messianic age, the return and rule of Yeshua!  Sukkot is the bridal chamber for the wedding feast and represents the return of the Kingdom of God here on earth:
 
God says He will raise up the Meeting Place of His divine Glory where He dwells-a place of worship that will restore the Family of David-Those who call upon the Name of the Lord!  His Mishpocha (family) gathers around the Mishkahn the place where the presence of God loves to meet with His creation!
 
God Himself follows His calendar and time line, it is the prophetic clock for the Kingdom of God.  Follow the life of Yeshua and you’ll see that it follows the feast day cycle starting with Pesach.  This time of transition from the old year to the new years is a time for both physical and spiritual cleansing and renewal.  The One New Man, Unity between Jew and Gentile within the body has its roots in the New Year with the completion of the Mishkahn/Tabernacle and the ability to approach God!
 
The Tabernacle, now complete, establishes the correct pattern for God's divine Glory.  When the pattern is right the Glory falls.  In fact, God tells us to observe His New Year:
 
Deuteronomy 16:1. "Observe the month of Aviv, (Shamor et-chodesh ha'Aviv "Shamar's: Guard, observe, we are ordered to guard/safeguard the head of the month CHodesh ha’Aviv ) and keep Pesach to ADONAI your God; for in the month of Aviv, ADONAI your God brought you out of Egypt at night.

This is the Key to God's prophetic timeline and schedule of global events! What we are really doing keeping the Biblical New Year is realigning or resynchronizing ourselves with God's calendar and timeline in both our current worlds and in the world to come.  He desires us to safeguard this timeline, to remember the head of the New Year!  It’s not just an individual event, rather we doing this as Mishpocah, family!  I want you to understand this clearly as we have entered into the New Year!  We are not congregation building; we are restoring Family!  
 
Matthew 12:46-50. He was still speaking to the crowd when his mother and brothers appeared outside, asking to talk with him. 47 (Not original text) 48 But to the one who had informed him he replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his talmidim, he said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants, that person is my brother and sister and mother."

Whom ever does what God wants, whomever lives a biblical lifestyle, that person is my family!  Regardless of race, color, or past history!  
 
Observing Rosh Chodashim is considered the very first commandment given to Israel before the great Exodus from Egypt took place.  The Order to Observe Shabbat came in Exodus 16!  You can’t keep Shabbat or the feast if you don't know when to begin! This month shall be unto you the beginning of months:

Exodus 12:2.  You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month (Rosh Chodashim) of the year (R’ishon Chodashim) for you.

In the both Scriptures and Judaic tradition there are various names given to "this month," including the following: Chodesh Ha-Aviv (חדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב), "the month of spring," so named because it marked the time of the Exodus from Egypt "In Nisan our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt and in Nisan we will be redeemed."  
 
Within this same thought process, the month of Nisan is also referred to as Chodesh ha-Yeshuah, the "month of salvation".  This can be viewed and understood in both the Physical: Israel was physically delivered from Slavery in Egypt in the month of Nisan and Spiritually; The Salvation for both Israel and the world from the slavery of Sin occurred in the same month through the Messiah who was born today!!!!  Happy Birthday Yeshua!!!  Yeshua was also crucified on the stake 14 days from now in the same month during Pesach!

So we witness a heavenly ordered Cycle of Time.  A never ending repetitive circle that can be repetitive but not exactly identical!
 
Jewish thought regards time not in a linear, flat pattern but a spiral type of "helix," in a limitless forward or upward progression driven by a divine cyclic pattern that repeats certain divine patters in weeks, months, and years of life such as the Moedim or Feast Days beginning with the weekly Shabbat through the annual feast days).
 
The need to Shamar, to observe, to guard the biblical new year and associated feasts and cycles becomes clear.  The cycle is repetitive yet not identical from year to year as we stream towards the return of Messiah and the establishment of God's Kingdom and time line upon the earth, upon humanity!  The seed of redemption and salvation has already been sown, we need only to study and review the year to see it!
 
The power and joy of walking in Adonai’s path is something divine you can’t find outside of His word. May He give a joyous and prosperous new year and may He bless you and yours in this years Feast Days!.

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Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner March 2026

March has arrived, spring (for Virginia and the Mid Atlantic States) is in its early stages! March is a transition month, one of changing weather patterns. March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The first day of spring 2026 is on Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 10:46 am a.m. EDT. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is marked by the arrival of the spring (vernal) equinox. Daylight saving time is set to begin on Mar 8th, 2026 at 2:00 am. In the early hours, time will jump forward by one hour from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. This marks the shift to local Daylight Saving Time (DST). March is the time for the colorful spring season, with blossoms and warmer days! The daffodils, crocus’s, and tulips poking up out of the ground feel almost as good as a warm ray of sunshine peeking out between the clouds. It’s such a joy to be experiencing the warmer temperatures and spring blooms!

The name March comes from Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar. It was named after Mars, the Roman god of war, and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. Martius was the beginning of the season for warfare, and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities ended. Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months still placed March first.

Did you know that studies show that March is the most unproductive month of the year? Don't let this give you any ideas. The phrase: "March came in like a lion, and went out like a lamb." Is a common proverb about March that suggests that if it begins with rough, stormy, or cold weather (symbolized by the ferocity of a lion), it is likely to end with calm, mild, and pleasant weather (symbolized by the gentleness of a lamb).

Purim (Lot’s) begins at sunset, Monday March 2nd, 2026.  Purim is a joyous holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the Jews of ancient Persia from near-destruction at the hands of Haman, an adviser to King Ahasuerus. The story behind the holiday, told in the Scroll of Esther, recounts how the Jews were saved thanks to Esther, a Jewish woman chosen to be queen. Due to her courage and her role in saving the Jews, the story of Purim is named in her honor.

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, is St, Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland" he brought the Gospel to Ireland. He baptized thousands of people and ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities across the land.

The Biblical New Year, the 1st of Nisan is Wednesday March 18th,2026 at sunset. Let’s look at the prophetic meaning of the year 5786/2026. Hebrew letters also serve as numbers, so every year’s number can be read as a word or phrase:

5000: Heh, “behold” or “the” when added before word. The number 5 represents grace, God’s unmerited favor through His empowering presence.  It signifies victory and divine enablement!

700: Shin, often tied to fire, divine energy, or transformation. The number 7 (Sheva in Hebrew) is the DNA, the building blocks of creation. Seven is the central key to God’s creation and design.  The world was created in seven days.  There are seven feasts of the Lord in the annual feast day cycle.  There are Sheva festival days when work is forbidden.  Sheva days of Matzah!  Sheva days of Sukkot.  Sheva (seven) is the number of creation and is the number of perfection. It speaks of completion and perfection through warfare.
 
80: Peh, means “mouth” in Hebrew. It’s linked to speech, proclamation, declaration, and prophecy. The Number 8 symbolizes new beginnings. It points to the transition from the old into the new, the breaking forth of a new day, and the power of renewal and transformation through Yeshua.

6: Vav, means “hook” it relates to connection, unity, joining heaven and earth. The Number 6 is associated with humankind, as humanity was created on the sixth day. It functions as a nail that fixes two things together or as a hook that draws something into place.  Symbolically, it is the divine link between Heaven and Earth.

So, 5786 can be read as: “The year of connecting (Vav) through the mouth with decrees (Peh), with divine fire/energy (Shin).” It’s a year of Divine Connections, decrees and proclamations, Divine Shifts, and Divine Alignments from Heaven to our Earth.

The number 26 from the year 2026 in the gematria is the value of God's Name YHWH, symbolizes authority and love, marking a year with divine connections and the fulfillment of long-awaited promises. 2026 is described as a year of reaping, where believers are expected to witness the fulfillment of prophecies decreed and the manifestation of God's Word in power. This new year will be one of the most significant transitional shifts that we will see and experience. This New Year will be one of divine connections, radical divine shifts, coupled with divine alignments with the authority of the Kingdom of Adonai! Nations will feel this radical shift profoundly. Political, economic, and spiritual strongholds will not remain the same. Adonai is connecting, aligning, and joining us into His Heavenly purposes here on the earth. We must live our lives in this new year with great biblical intentionality!

Let us transition into the New Year in alignment with Adonai’s Will and Kingdom. Let our prayer in this New Year be for deeper intimacy with Adonai in Yeshua! Let us move into the New Year with a humble, contrite heart through repentance, transformation, and a renewing of our minds. Heavenly Father, thank You for making all things new! How great is Your faithfulness, nothing ahead in this New Year will surprise us. We will trust in You, Adonai, forever, because You are our Rock of Ages.

Shalom and Blessings,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson!

I Samuel 15:1-3.  Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "ADONAI sent me to anoint you king over his people, over Isra'el. Now listen to what ADONAI has to say. 2 Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"

King Sha'ul was commanded by God to Attack the Amalek's whom scripture records as ancient Israel's arch enemy.  The Amalekites were vicious adversaries and need to be dealt with.  God directs Saul to attack them and completely destroy them and ALL OF THEIR POSSESSIONS!  This is done by God to protect Israel fall falling into the idol worship that they were engaged in.  Remember, you could take Israel out of Egypt but not Egypt out of Israel.  A generation would perish in the wildness to rid the camp of Egyptian culture and religion.  Saul leads Israel in a victorious attack but doesn't comply with God's explicit instructions:

I Samuel 15:8-14.  He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed. 10 Then the word of ADONAI came to Sh'mu'el: 11 "I regret setting up Sha'ul as king, because he has turned back from following me and hasn't obeyed my orders. "This made Sh'mu'el very sad, so that he cried to ADONAI all night. 12 Sh'mu'el got up early in the morning to meet Sha'ul; however, Sh'mu'el was told, "Sha'ul came to Karmel to set up a monument for himself there, but now he has left and is on his way down to Gilgal." 13 Sh'mu'el went to Sha'ul; Sha'ul said to him, "May ADONAI bless you! I have done what ADONAI ordered." 14 But Sh'mu'el answered, "If so, why do I hear sheep bleating and cows mooing?"

Sha'ul and Samuel clash over Saul's insubordination because this isn't a new behavior for Sha'ul, this is Sha'ul's second offense.  In Samuel 13:8-14 Saul didn't wait for Samuel as he was told, instead he sacrificed to God which was out of order costing him his legacy! The throne would not stay in his lineage.  God removed the monarchy or Kingship from Sha'ul's descendants.  This incident in I Samuel 15 will cost Saul personally, now he will lose both the throne and his life as God regrets ever making Saul king.  Even though at the onset of this battle Samuel stressed the need to comply with God's directions and orders.  After Samuel confronts him Sha'ul tries to shift the blame upon his troops rather than take responsibility and repent:

I Samuel 15:20-23.  Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek. 21 But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal." 22 Sh'mu'el said, "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king."

I consistently teach and speak on the importance of obedience to the commands of God.  This is applicable too and does relate directly to God's word but that's not where I want to go with this.  The key here is that Saul knew what God wanted Him to do and he chose not to do so.  Saul was insubordinate.  Insubordination is the refusal to obey orders, it's disobedience to authority.
 
IT IS NEVER A MINOR THING TO KNOW GOD'S WILL AND NOT DO IT!

God calls this sin!  In fact, it is the definition of the term sin.  Sin is the direct disobedience to the know will of God.  Saul did exactly what we do today! He began reasoning, rationalizing, and procrastinating.  Exactly what believers do today!  Does this sound familiar:

"I'm just not ready yet", "I'll do it later", I can't afford to do that", "It wouldn't make a difference anyway", "I don't know how", "I don't know what to say", "I don't have the training", "Someone else will do it" to name just a few of our excuses.  I've shared this before, I've had people tell me   "Rabbi, I know what you are saying is truth because it's in the bible, but I'm not going to do it!"  That is exactly what Saul did.  It is a deadly attitude.  All of this rationalizing and procrastinating in God's eyes is disobedience.
 
James 4:17.  So then, anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin.

We tend to deceive ourselves into believing that good thoughts or good intentions equal obedience and compliance with God's commands and instructions.  That is a lie of HaSatan.  An intention without the corresponding action is sin.  You have heard me say this probable a thousand times so right now will be one thousand and one times:  God does not deal with you. How many times has God directly given you a command or directive and you reacted by rationalizing and procrastinating through prayer, fasting, and confirmation rather than doing what HE told you to do?
 
When you encounter God and He gives you a directive it's not enough that you right it down in your prayer journal or that you share it with me or someone else who is also a believer.  You must act on it!

For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord God of Israel, when He speaks to you, He is not asking you to think about it, form a decision, or take a family or congregational vote on the matter.  This is where so many believers fall short and come into sin.  Deciding to obey is not the same as obeying.  Yeshua shared the following parable about this subject

Matthew 21:28-31. "But give me your opinion: a man had two sons. He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 He answered, `I don't want to'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to his other son and said the same thing. This one answered, `I will, sir'; but he didn't go. 31 Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they replied. "That's right!" Yeshua said to them. "I tell you that the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you!

This is a topic that is often taught on within the Messianic Community regarding Torah, living a biblical lifestyle, regardless if your Jewish or Gentile, and of course the sensitive topics of dietary commands, tithing, celebrating the feasts, and even keeping Shabbat.  This is actually another form of rationalizing and procrastinating but done on a more corporate level called formalized religion which relates to both Judaism and Christianity.  But what I'm talking about right now, goes way beyond the fundamental tenants of trust and worship, what I'm talking about spills over into our daily lives.
 
It's married people who claim to be followers of God while involved in inappropriate immoral behavior. Single believers going to night clubs or dance clubs that we all know are hook up places for casual sex.  Its every addiction that God said to know off and your still engaged in.  It's watching inappropriate things on TV or streaming.  It's those who say they call upon the name of the Lord and celebrate Halloween or Easter.....It's those who call upon the name of the Lord and follow horoscopes and have their palms read, it’s those who call upon the name of the Lord and speak to the dead (necromancing) which is very popular on TV these days, even those who do the necromancing will proclaim that they are believers and worship the God of Israel.  It's those who call upon the name of the Lord and won't help a neighbor or even a stranger in trouble and in need of assistance.  It's those who call upon the name of the Lord and live together in sin vice getting married.  It's those who call upon the name of the Lord and seek to reconcile with God through their own works-Saul tried that when he sacrificed instead of waiting for Samuel.  Great intentions but insubordinate.

Loudly proclaiming the necessity of obedience doesn't equate to obedience.  Making a public commitment to obey isn't the same as actually obeying!

Luke 6:46-49.  "Why do you call me, `Lord! Lord!' but not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to me, hears my words and acts on them -- I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like someone building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the torrent beat against that house but couldn't shake it, because it was constructed well. 49 And whoever hears my words but doesn't act on them is like someone who built his house on the ground without any foundation. As soon as the river struck it, it collapsed and that house became a horrendous wreck!"

It's shocking, even puzzling how many who call upon the name of the Lord attempt to lead a Godly lifestyle but don't or won't read their bible.  Remember, it's not strict unthinking compliance to what your Rabbi, Pastor, denomination, Yeshiva, or Seminary says that is obedience.  Its adherence to what God says.  This does not take away from submitting to authority as Romans 13 and Hebrews 13 states.  I'm talking about subordination and obedience to God's word vice some theology, Catechism, Doxology, or Talmudic belief system.

Deuteronomy 32:47. For this is not a trivial matter for you; on the contrary, it is your life! Through it you will live long in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess."

Moshe described the end result of rationalizing and procrastination: God’s word and commands are trivialized.  You've heard it all: "What's the big deal?", "You're Judaizing", "God is about love and grace....you can do whatever you want because Torah (obedience) is done away with and you're saved by grace".  That is all lies from the pits of hell.  God says this is not trivial matter, in fact it's YOUR LIFE! Think about Moses’ audience as he makes this statement.  This group that's about to enter into the promise land watched their parents and elders die in the wilderness because "they knew what to do and wouldn't do it".  Even our beloved Moses didn’t enter into the promise land because he knew what to do in a situation and wouldn't do it!  God told him in

Numbers 20:8-12.  "Take the staff, assemble the community, you and Aharon your brother; and before their eyes, tell the rock to produce its water. You will bring them water out of the rock and thus enable the community and their livestock to drink." 9 Moshe took the staff from the presence of ADONAI, as he had ordered him. 10 But after Moshe and Aharon had assembled the community in front of the rock, he said to them, "Listen here, you rebels! Are we supposed to bring you water from this rock?" 11 Then Moshe raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, "Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isra'el, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them."

Ahhh, there is an underlying current or theme in all of these biblical examples, a lack of trusting God which is a fundamental reason why many of us do not submit to God. Moses was angry and took matters into his own hands instead of trusting God.  Saul sacrificed to God instead of waiting for Samuel in I Samuel 13 because he was getting anxious and didn't trust God.
 
It's a known point here within this ministry which deals with this very subject.  I've had individuals who’ve come to me and said: “The Lord told them to attend Congregation Zion’s Sake” yet after several months I don’t see them!  I've had individuals come to me whom God has spoken to and share that God gave them an idea or ministry, but they want me to do it.  I'm already walking out what God told me to do.  If God tells you to do something or gives you an idea He wants you to do it.  If He wanted me to do it, He would have given me the dream or vision.  I'll help and assist you in biblical anyway I can, but I won’t do it for you!  Adonai gave us a daily reminder to recite to remind us:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; 5 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.

God gave us a constant, daily reminder that it was not by our own doing that we are victorious, but by His hand and that we are to Love, fear, and serve Him and Him alone,  No other God's are to be in receipt of our obedience and submission.  If we do so, things will go well for us!
 
James 4:17. So then, anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin.

Our reverence for God and His word is revealed not by what we say but by what we do like Abraham's immediate compliance with God's instructions which was awarded to him as righteousness.  To disobey God is to reject life, to obey God is to experience the fullness and blessings of all that God offers.

Here is the key: Only obedience to God's commands satisfies God's desire for obedience.

Blessings, Rabbi Eric S Carlson

As we've been studying eschatology I once again proclaim the necessity to not become entrenched in a specific theology or doxology concerning the end times.  One thing is for certain, the minute someone says they have it all figured out they are proven wrong.  The key is to rely on God's word and not get set or again, entrenched on how things will unfold, instead, I look for certain biblical signs to come to pass, scripture events that will occur that reveal the time is soon.  I gave a message on signs several years ago that explained what signs are!

What is a sign?  It’s a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known, a mark having a conventional meaning and used in place of words or to represent a complex notion, something material or external that stands for or signifies something spiritual.  Sign in Hebrew is Oth which means signal, an indication that something is happening, God is preparing to intervene in Humanity!!!
 
Signs are extraordinary natural wonders, symbols, or events used by God to instill trust and or demonstrate His authority over Humanity.  Signs are designed to reveal to our earthly senses God’s divine power.  Signs were the method God used to reveal Himself to both Israel and Egypt while Israel was enslaved in Egypt! The 10 plaques were a sign:
 
Psalms 135:9. He sent signs and wonders among you, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his subjects.
 
Jeremiah 32:20-21.  "You gave signs and performed miracles in the land of Egypt which continue to this day, also in Isra'el and among other people; thus you made yourself the reputation you have today. 21 You brought your people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt with signs and miracles, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror.
We within the body of Messiah should not be fearful of Heavenly signs rather we must be aware of them and understand what's happening as we witness them!  The end of the age is revealed through signs!  We are already into the end of ages.  Unfortunately, most of the body of Messiah is relying on someone else's theology to tell them what will occur vice reading the word themselves.  Remember the prophet’s warning:

Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for want of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as cohen for me. Because you forgot the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children.

So, our eschatology, our understanding of the end times must reconcile to scripture. Scripture records certain signs that will preceded Yeshua's return.  What's interesting is that many events have already occurred.  So many believers and followers read scripture from their current teaching or mindset but delve into error.  Such as the following apocalyptic prediction concerning the anti-Messiah:

Daniel 7:25.  He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. He will attempt to alter the seasons and the law; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

It's with great irony that so many in the body of Messiah are looking for this to come to pass when its already happened.  The Holy Ones have been following altered seasons and altered Scriptures since the council of Nycea in 325 A.D. but it won't last forever.  In fact, the reemergence of the Messianic Community signals the end of this phase! The world will experience a whole scale apostasy from God, His word, His Son, and His Kingdom:
 
Amos 8:11-12. "The time is coming," says Adonai ELOHIM, "when I will send famine over the land, not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of ADONAI. 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and from north to east, running back and forth, seeking the word of ADONAI; but they will not find it.

And again in:

II Thessalonians 2:3. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom.

Multiple passages reveal that the famine has already begun!
 
II Thessalonians 2:7. For already this separating from Torah is at work secretly, but it will be secretly only until he who is restraining is out of the way.

I Timothy 4:1. The Spirit expressly states that in the acharit-hayamim some people will apostatize from the faith by paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Matthew 24:12. and many people's love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah.

Religion will replace God's word, watering down both the power and the truth.  
Matthew 15:9. Their worship of me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.'"

There will be False prophets in abundance, False Messiah's will abound in this apostasy!  Cults and sects will flourish in conjunction with the apostasy previously mentioned.  This is mentioned by Yeshua Himself!
 
Matthew 24:23-26.  "At that time, if someone says to you, `Look! Here's the Messiah!' or, `There he is!' don't believe him. 24 For there will appear false Messiahs and false prophets performing great miracles -- amazing things! -- so as to fool even the chosen, if possible. 25 There! I have told you in advance! 26 So if people say to you, `Listen! He's out in the desert!' don't go; or, `Look! He's hidden away in a secret room!' don't believe it.
 
Good will be called evil and evil good.  The moral fabric will be turned upside down and what was unacceptable a generation ago becomes normal and mainstream.
 
Isaiah 5:20. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who change darkness into light and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter!
A profound prophetic sign will be that Israel is restored as a nation:

Isaiah 66:8.  Who ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Is a country born in one day? Is a nation brought forth all at once? For as soon as Tziyon went into labor, she brought forth her children.

There will be earthquakes, floods, famines, plagues and diseases such as the world has never seen.  As we read the words of Yeshua in Luke it's a fascinating read done much like Isaiah.  Yeshua starts with the current generation and time then gently transitions to our time today.
 
Luke 21:20-28.  "However, when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed. 21 Those in Y'hudah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not enter it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the Tanakh will come true. 23 What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment on the people. 24 Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course. 25 "There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea, 26 as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory. 28 When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!"

Verse 24 is the Rosetta stone verse, the key that tells us Yeshua has been talking about 2,000 years ago-now Yeshua transitions to our day today. These famines and plaques will also include Global Shalom, world Peace being removed from the earth.  Wars, violence, antisemitism, and hared of Israel will increase throughout the world with war on every land

Revelation 6:5-8.  When he broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Go!" I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living beings say, "Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages! Six pounds of barley for the same price! But don't damage the oil or the wine!" 7 When he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, "Go!" 8 I looked, and there in front of me was a pallid, sickly-looking horse. Its rider's name was Death, and Sh'ol followed behind him. They were given authority to kill one-quarter of the world by war, by famine, by plagues and with the wild animals of the earth.

Some type of a new world order is established:
 
Revelation 13:16-18.  Also it forces everyone - great and small, rich and poor, free and slave - to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead 17 preventing anyone from buying or selling unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This is where wisdom is needed; those who understand should count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and its number is 666.
 
It's interesting that 666 in the Gematria spells "hidden"!  I believe we are on the cusp of a worldwide economic collapse.  
 
Another sign is that there will be an increase of belief and worship of the occult.

Isaiah 47:8-13.  Now hear this, you lover of luxuries, lolling at ease and saying to yourself, 'I am important, and no one else! I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.' 9 But both will come over you in an instant, in a single day loss of children and widowhood; they will utterly overwhelm you, despite your many occult practices and powerful spells to prevent it." 10 You were at ease in your wickedness, you thought, "No one sees me." Your "wisdom" and "knowledge" perverted you, as you thought to yourself, "I am important, and no one else." 11 Yet disaster will befall you, and you won't know how to charm it away; calamity will come upon you, and you won't be able to turn it aside; ruin will overcome you, suddenly, before you know it. 12 So for now, keep on with your powerful spells and your many occult practices; from childhood you have been working at them; maybe they will do you some good, maybe you will inspire terror! 13 You are worn out with all your consultations - so let the astrologers and stargazers, the monthly horoscope-makers, come forward now and save you from the things that will come upon you!

This sets the stage for false fire and false miracles, deceiving believers who are not firm in God's word. This is why I'm so hard on the body regarding holidays and worship style!  False worship and false religion paves the way for the Anti-Messiah to deceive believers.

There is a key in understanding when its false-idol worship:

Revelation 13:11-14. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like those of a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence; and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great miracles, even causing fire to come down from heaven onto the earth as people watch. 14 It deceives the people living on earth by the miracles it is allowed to perform in the presence of the beast, and it tells them to make an image honoring the beast that was struck by the sword but came alive again.

The next sign is that people will not believe God's signs, just like the days of Noah because of their apostasy:
 
Matthew 24:37-44.  For the Son of Man's coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn't know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. 40 Then there will be two men in a field -- one will be taken and the other left behind. 41 There will be two women grinding flour at the mill -- one will be taken and the other left behind. 42 So stay alert, because you don't know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.

The next sign of Yeshua’s return is that there will be manifested Signs and Wonders in heaven:

Mark 13:24-25.  In those days, after that trouble, the sun will grow dark, the moon will stop shining, 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in heaven will be shaken
And of course the biggest and most important sign is Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people.  They are restored, revived, and become the center of the universe where Yeshua will reign as King when he returns:
 
Amos 9:14-15. I will restore the fortunes of my people Isra'el; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities; they will plant vineyards and drink their wine, cultivate gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their own soil, no more to be uprooted from their land, which I gave them," says ADONAI your God.
Jerusalem will be in contention:

Zechariah 12:3. When that day comes, I will make Yerushalayim a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it will hurt themselves, and all the earth's nations will be massed against her.

This fighting and tribulation will turn the last of Israel to receive Yeshua:

Zechariah 12:10. and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced." They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.

Israel will cry out to Yeshua for Him to return and reign:

Matthew 23:37-39. “"Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! 38 Look! God is abandoning your house to you, leaving it desolate. 39 For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI.'"

All the world will turn toward Israel and our people to seek the God of Israel:

Zechariah 8:20-23. "ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'In the future, peoples and inhabitants of many cities will come; 21 the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say, "We must go to ask ADONAI's favor and consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot. I'll go too." 22 Yes, many peoples and powerful nations will come to consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot in Yerushalayim and to ask ADONAI's favor.' 23 ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'When that time comes, ten men will take hold - speaking all the languages of the nations - will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, "We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."'
 
Aliya, the return of our Jewish people to the land of Israel will be a sign (banner):
 
Isaiah 11:10-12. “On that day the root of Yishai, which stands as a banner for the peoples - the Goyim will seek him out, and the place where he rests will be glorious. 11 On that day Adonai will raise his hand again, a second time, to reclaim the remnant of his people who remain from Ashur, Egypt, Patros, Ethiopia, 'Eilam, Shin'ar, Hamat and the islands in the sea. 12 He will hoist a banner for the Goyim, assemble the dispersed of Isra'el, and gather the scattered of Y'hudah from the four corners of the earth.”

As we walk through this we must be engaged in salvations while we witness these events unfold before us:

II Peter 3:13. as you wait for the Day of God and work to hasten (Spuedo: That which was to come latter to come now, to urge on, hasten, or make haste) its coming. That Day will bring on the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt from the heat;

We are to be about our father’s business and bring salvation to both Jew and Gentile alike, to the Jew first (Romans 1:16). When we do so Israel will be saved and call Yeshua back!!
 
Blessings and Shalom!
 
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
  

Shalom Mishpocha,

        February, the second month of 2026 is here already!! February has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the 29th day being called the leap day. February is the third and last month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. February got its name from the Roman month Februarius, named after the Latin term februum, which means "purification", via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. The average daily daylight in February is 10.5 hours.

        Monday, February 2nd, 2026, is Groundhog Day. This worldly tradition is big, on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter’s day. According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If, however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner. The Groundhog’s Day comes from German roots. In the early 1800s, German immigrants to America brought the tradition of predicting winter weather on February 2. In their native Germany, they used Hedgehogs to predict the weather. As they settled in the hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition of using the Groundhog to predict the arrival of Spring.

        February's full moon will reach peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST on February 1st, 2026 when the moon's orbit places it directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky, making it appear fully lit from our perspective. The February full moon is often called the "Snow Moon", in reference to the heavy snowfall that often coats the ground that time of year.

        Sunday, February 8th, 2026 is football Super Bowl 60. It will take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, which is home to the San Francisco 49ers. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC. The Superbowl is the most watched event in the U.S. Last year, over 127.7 million people around the world watched it. Some people watch the game, while others tune in for the commercials or the halftime show are the big attractions.

February is a relatively quite month for us, comprised of the biblical months of Shevat and Adar. Tu B'Shevat for the year 2026 is celebrated/observed on sundown of Sunday, February 1st ending at sundown on Monday, February 2. Tu B’Shvat is a Rabbinical Jewish holiday (not biblical) occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". The day is celebrated in modern Israel as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration. This day is akin to our Arbor Day celebrated in April!

Monday, February 16th, 2026, is Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level! It is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797. Washingtons actual birthday is February 22nd. President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, but nearly half the state governments have officially renamed their observances "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations.

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration that honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Black History Month originated in the United States as "Negro History Week," which was established in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The week was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14), both of whom played significant roles in the history of African Americans. The week gained popularity and was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 during the United States Bicentennial, with President Gerald Ford urging Americans to recognize the contributions of Black Americans.

Black History Month serves as a time to reflect on the central role of African Americans in U.S. history, acknowledging their struggles, achievements, and contributions across various fields, including politics, science, culture, and civil rights. It aims to educate the public about the rich history and culture of African Americans and to inspire pride within the community. Black History Month is more than just a month on the calendar; it is a movement that encourages ongoing dialogue about race, equality, and the contributions of African Americans to society. It serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and representation in history and education. As God’s word reminds us:

Psalm 133 (TLV). A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard—Aaron’s beard—coming down on the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Adonai commanded the blessing—life forevermore!

Blessings and Shalom,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson

Juneteenth commemorates the dates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the Confederate state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”:
 
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name coming from a portmanteau of the words June and teenth like nineteenth and other numbers ending with -teenth. The North’s victory brought an end to both the Civil war and the scourge of slavery.  This national conflict resulted in three addendums to the Freedom document, the Bill of Rights.  The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th amendment gave equal citizenship to every human being born in this country regardless of race, granting the full rights and protection of the U.S. Constitution, and the 15th amendment guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. Unfortunately, these amendments weren’t kept or honored for over 100 years causing great oppression, pain, and suffering! The word shares that we are to be concerned about the welfare of all our brothers and sisters:
 
I Corinthians 12:25-26 So that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others. 26 Thus if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness.
 
This is why the issue of Racism, or any prejudice is so critical-if one of us is suffering, we all suffer! It inhibits the release of the One New Man! Legalized slavery stopped in 1865 with the defeat to the Confederacy, but the end of slavery still hasn’t effectively come to pass even though the civil rights act of 1964 was passed, 99 years later.  At the end of the Civil War there was no closure, the enemy wasn’t defeated, the threat of a return to slavery was real and existed. President Lincoln, a man of God, had a plan to give 40 acres of land and a mule to every former slave family, but he was assassinated before this could come to pass!
 
Instead, Jim Crow laws were instituted in the 1880’s as the reconstruction period ended in 1879.  In 1890 Separate but Equal legislation was passed by all southern state legislatures. In the 1870’s the former slave owners gradually regained power in the Southern legislatures, having used insurgent paramilitary groups, such as the KKK, the White League and Red Shirts, to disrupt black political organizing, run officeholders out of town, and intimidate blacks to suppress their voting.
 
Extensive voter fraud was also used. Gubernatorial elections were close and had been disputed in Louisiana for years, with increasing violence against blacks during campaigns from 1868 onward. Before I go on, I’m making a disclaimer:  I’m not endorsing any political party, I’m sharing U.S. history as it happened. In 1877, a national Democratic Party compromise to gain Southern support in the presidential election resulted in the U.S. government's withdrawing the last of the federal troops from the South. White Democrats regained political power in every Southern state and restored white supremacy.  These Southern, white, governments legislated Jim Crow laws, officially segregating black people from the white population.
 
Blacks were still elected to local offices through the early 1880s, but the establishment were passing laws to make voter registration and electoral rules severely restrictive, with the result that political participation by most blacks and many poor whites began to decrease. Between 1890 and 1910, ten of the eleven former Confederate states, starting with Mississippi, passed new constitutions or amendments that effectively removed the vote from most blacks and tens of thousands of poor whites through a combination of poll taxes, literacy and comprehension tests, and residency and record-keeping requirements. Grandfather clauses temporarily permitted some illiterate whites to vote, but gave no relief to most blacks.
 
Those who could not vote were not eligible to serve on juries and could not run for local offices.  Blacks disappeared from political life, as they could not influence the state legislatures, and their interests were overlooked. While public schools had been established by Reconstruction legislatures for the first time in most Southern states; those for black children were consistently underfunded compared to schools for white children, even when considered within the strained finances of the postwar South where the decreasing price of cotton kept the agricultural economy at a low.  
 
In just 20 years after the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, all blacks were effectively returned to slavery.  It had different names: “Share Croppers” “Segregation” “Separate but equal” “Jim Crow” but the effects were identical. Slavery in America has yet to have a closure, a transition or transformation into freedom and liberty. It’s the “Pink Elephant” sitting in the middle of our Republic that no one desires to discuss or talk about! The modern welfare institution is still a form of slavery and suppression as is the Bureau of Indians Affairs and the reservation system for our Native, Indigenous brothers and sisters!  As Messianic Jews we must not only be involved, we must lead! The Messianic Movement must lead, and the Church must break its silence on this! We are commanded to be a voice for the voiceless. We are surrounded by the oppressed, the persecuted, and voiceless. We are commanded to be an advocate; The greater body of Messiah’s silence on this is deafening, Silence is a sin!
 
Proverbs 31:8. Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate.
 
Slave hood isn’t relegated to human servitude alone.  Slavery manifests physically, spiritually, and financially. God decreed that He would send His servant who would bring freedom to the captives physically, spiritually, and financially!
 
Isaiah 61:1. The Spirit of Adonai ELOHIM is upon me, because ADONAI has anointed me to announce good news to the poor (Ana’yim: poor, humble, afflicted, meek, needy). He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted (L’nish bry; Brokenhearted, crushed, broken, fractured hurt, injured) to proclaim freedom to the captives (Lish’vu’yim: captive, taken captive, prisoner, enslaved), to let out into light those bound in the dark (pek-akh-ko'-akh: opening of the eyes, opening of a dungeon or prison, salvation from sin).
 
Yeshua alone is the source of our freedom from every and all types of enslavement. He alone is our source of restoration, redemption, and freedom.  Our kinsman redeemer who will restore both all rights and free us from captivity to whatever enslaves us. Like the African American slaves prior to 1865, Spiritually, every individual is enslaved, to the thing that traps you and holds you into submission. It’s literally slavery as well as unbiblical behaviors, actions, gambling, pornography, drugs, alcohol, immorality, Unforgiveness, all sin enslaves us.  Some people know what they are a slave to and have defeated it, others have not!
 
Since the dawn of creation humans have enslaved other humans! Even today in certain areas of Africa and across the Muslim Nation’s slavery continues on! At one time or another every people group has been enslaved. The Egyptians did it, the Greeks did it, the Romans did it, the Byzantine Empire did, the Ottoman Turkish Empire did it, the British Empire, the European monarchies of old kept its own citizens as serfs, slaves! Both France and Germany enslaved the Africans in their respective African colonies and killed hundreds of Thousands through forced labor.
 
I’m saddened to witness and experience the toxic racial division and anarchy that has formed in this country!  This is not of God.  Communism, Socialism, BLM, and Critical Race Theory are not of Adonai or His word!  For over 3,500 years the greater Jewish community has celebrated Pesach through which we remember and celebrate our own redemption from slavery! Remembering is part of the healing process!  Juneteenth is now a State and federal holiday!  It’s a step in the right direction! But there are gigantic leaps that we still need to take. No matter what your skin, hair, or eye color is we’re all members of the human race! Why does every federal form ask what race you are? Why do loan applications ask your race? What matters is if you pay your bills on time, not what color you are! As Adonai Himself said:
 
I Samuel 16:7. But ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Don't pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. ADONAI doesn't see the way humans see - humans look at the outward appearance, but ADONAI looks at the heart."
 
We will not submit to fear, we will not walk in fear, we will not be swayed by hatred, aggression, racism, disunity, Anti-Semitism, or any other divisive spirit!  We will serve the Lord and move forward in God’s Word and in the Power of the Ruach!  It took a small handful of brave, courageous people like W.E.B Dubois, Rosa Parks, Dr. King and others who had their eyes opened, who boldly stood for the freedom that was already granted 100 years earlier.  It was the absolute resolve of tens of thousands of WWII African American veterans like the Red Tails of the Tuskegee Airman who had proven their equality on the battlefield. They fought to win freedom for our people, the Jewish People in the death camps, they liberated Europe and Asia yet returned home to face a life of segregation, inequality, racism, bigotry, and injustice.  The very principles they were fighting for elsewhere in the world! Intentionality in relationship overcomes racism and Anti-Semitism.
 
As an ancient Native American Proverb states: “Don’t judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.”.  Yeshua’s warning speaks directly to us across the threads of time:
 
Mark 3:24-25. If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can't survive; 25 and if a household is divided against itself, that household can't survive.

The only way we will conquer, and defeat racism, prejudice, and Anti-Semitism is through focused intentionality, active dialogue, relationship, fellowship, and the Blood of Yeshua coupled with the Holy Spirit!  Racism and prejudice are taught, not inherited! It won’t just go away! That which was taught can be untaught! In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King:
 
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.”
 
May we pause June 19th to consider what this day represents and what we can do to move forward!
 
Blessings and Love,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
 

I Kings 19:19 (TLV). 'So he departed from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Then Elijah crossed over to him and threw his mantle (addereth: a large over-garment, A representation of Elijah's office as prophet of Israel; mantle) on him. '
 
A mantle is an office, role, or responsibility that passes from one person to another.  In this case the office of “Prophet of Israel” was being passed from Elijah to Elisha.  This mantle is represented by special, peculiar clothing which was probably sheepskin.  The prophet Elijah “threw his mantle upon Elisha” as a symbol of Elijah’s ministry being passed on to Elisha. The prophet’s mantle was a symbol of his authority and responsibility as God’s chosen spokesman.  Elisha was not confused as to what Elijah was doing; wearing his mantle made his appointment official and clear.  Biblical Prophets were known for wearing mantles as a sign of their calling from God.  The prophet Samuel wore a mantle:
 
I Samuel 15:27 (TLV). As Samuel turned about to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe (me'il: robe, mantle, outer garment, garment worn over a tunic by men of rank, a garment of the high priest) and it tore. '
 
The mantle served a symbolic purpose to the people, in the case of the prophets, showing they were wrapped in God’s authority.  Like all imagery in the Tanach, the mantle presents a visible representation of a Brit Chadesha principle. The mantle can be seen as a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit whom God so graciously gives to all believers, those who call upon the God of Israel in Yeshua.  
 
I Thessalonians 1:5–6 (TLV). 'because our Good News did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and with complete certainty—just as you know what kind of men we proved to be while among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the message in much tribulation, with the joy of the Ruach ha-Kodesh . '
 
We, the modern Messianic Movement, have a very specific prophetic mantle awarded, appointed, and given to us by Yeshua and confirmed by Sha’ul.  There are some very specific points to our mantle:
 
Matthew 5:14-19.  "You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don't cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine (lampo {lam'-po}: radiate, shine, radiate brilliancy, beam, give light) before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. 17 "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
We are the Light, Or in Hebrew!  The same illumination that Adonai separated the upper and lower waters, the beginning of creation!  We are to radiate that light, to beam to those around us!  Before we move on, I started with the passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha.  To see where we’re going we must answer a few questions.  What was Elijah’s purpose?  What was his calling?  What did He pass along to Elisha?
 
Elijah’s time frame of service is around 870 B.C., about one hundred years after the reign of King David, who’d set a high standard of trust, honor, loyalty, faithfulness, and integrity in serving the God of Israel.  After the sins of Idolatry his son Solomon committed the kingdom of Israel was divided, split into two kingdoms.  A king of the Northern Kingdom, A.K.A Israel, Ephraim, or Shomron arose; a wicked king named Ahab (whose wife was Jezebel) who did more to provoke God to anger than all the kings of Israel who had come before him
 
I Kings 16:33. Ach'av also set up the asherah; indeed, Ach'av did more to anger ADONAI the God of Isra'el, than all the kings of Isra'el preceding him.
 
The apostasy during Ahab’s reign was the result of many years of corrupt kings and increasing evil, until wickedness filled the land. A majority of the people of Israel had succumbed to apostasy through worshipping the Canaanite gods Baal and Ashtoreth.  Any religion, expression of worship, or lifestyle that is not in line with or reconcile to the Word of God is apostasy-period.  Yet God had a remnant (like the modern-day messianic movement) that remained loyal to Him, 7,000 Israelites that had not bent a knee to or worshipped Baal during this wicked time of sin and apostasy.  
 
God, in grace and mercy routinely sent warnings with a call to return to Him.  He waited patiently for His people to turn, repent, perform T’Shuva from their apostasy, from their worldly influence, their Babylonian/Hellenistic expression of worship.  He beckoned them to return to Him in Spirit and Truth.  
 
I Kings 14:15-16. ADONAI will strike Isra'el until it shakes like a reed in the water; he will uproot Isra'el from this good land, which he gave to their ancestors, and scatter them beyond the [Euphrates] River; because they made sacred poles for themselves, thus making ADONAI angry. 16 He will give up on Isra'el because of the sins of Yarov'am, which he committed himself, and with which he made Isra'el sin as well."
 
The sins of Jeroboam are alive, well, and present today within the greater body of Messiah!  Manmade religion, manmade practices, and manmade worldly expressions of worship.  To announce and warn of His pending punishment God sent a messenger, Elijah the prophet to warn the people to perform T’Shuva, to turn back to God which of course they didn’t!  Our mantle is the same!  Like Elijah We are to walk, live, and share the Kingdom of God within the confines, submission, and obedience of God’s word, His whole word!  
 
Colossians 2:16-17.  So don't let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat. 17 These are a shadow (skia {skee'-ah}: shade caused by the interception of light, a sketch, outline of things that are coming) but the body is of the Messiah.
 
Remember what actually works against HaSatan:
 
Revelation 12:17. (TLV) 'So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring—those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua. '
 
So Yeshua, backed up by Sha’ul, has given us a precedence to our Mantle as Elijah had for His which He passed along to Elisha. You are soldiers of God and were at war!  It’s time to use every weapon He has given us in the war chest!  Every strategy, every weapon, every scripture, what every it takes!  Radical times call for radical people!  It’s a time for great boldness, to be on the offensive, not holding our own!  It’s time for the revival of Israel, the land and the people!  Yeshua gave us the order of battle:
 
Matthew 10:5-8. (TLV) Yeshua sent out these twelve and ordered them, “Do not go to the Gentiles, and do not enter into any Samaritan town. 6 But go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with tza'arat, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give. '
 
And again in:
 
Matthew 15:24. He said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra'el."
 
Sha’ul gives further clarification of Yeshua’s profound words in
 
Romans 1:16. (TLV) 'For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. '
 
Our Mantle is restoration, to be the Messenger of the Good News for the Salvation of Israel, the land and the people!  This isn’t just our mantle; it’s the mantle, the purpose of the entire body of Messiah!  Unfortunately, the Jeroboams, the Ahab’s, and Jezebel’s are in charge right now, the good news is we have the same God who stood with Elijah standing with us!  We’re not alone, there are thousands just like us that haven’t bowed a knee to Ba’al, who are removed from the Hellenistic mainstream expression of worship!  In fact, our mantle is one of the most critical ever in Biblical History.  Let's review some of Yeshua’s last words here on earth before He was crucified on the stake:
 
Matthew 23:37-39. (TLV)  '“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate! 39 For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘ Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai . Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”'
 
I’m restating this again as I have over decades now!  Yeshua is not coming back until Israel, we, the Jewish people call Him back!  It’s not Rome, it’s not the Church, it’s not Orthodox Judaism, it’s a redeemed Israel who become painfully aware of who Yeshua is and how we have scorned him for millennia!  But, the current state of affairs in the greater body is one of apostasy and Yeshua tells us why:
 
Matthew 22:29.  Yeshua answered them, "The reason you go astray (planao {plan-ah'-o}:  cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way, to go astray, wander, roam about, to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive, to be led into error, to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin, to sever or fall away from the truth) is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of God.
 
We will mourn and cry out for the lost son of the house of David, We the People-not the Knesset, not the democracy of Israel, we the people will cry out “Baruch ha-Ba B’shem Adonai!”  The heavenly Theocracy, the Messianic reign will begin when we speak these words collectively as the People of Israel and the current state or Democracy of Israel will cease to exist. No more prime minister, Yeshua will be King and God Himself will be the Holy of Holies!  This will usher in a reign of a unified body of Messiah the Yeshua died for:
 
Ephesians 2:11-19. Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth - called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised - 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra'el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God's promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. 13 But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah's blood. 14 For he himself is our shalom - he has made us both one and has broken down the m'chitzah which divided us 15 by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, 16 and in order to reconcile to God both in a single body by being executed on a stake as a criminal and thus in himself killing that enmity. 17 Also, when he came, he announced as Good News shalom to you far off and shalom to those nearby, 18 news that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's family.
 
This is our mantle, our destiny!  We not only bring restoration, salvation, and revival, we are to walk in and usher in the One New Man reign!  Like Elijah’s day, we are currently in transition.  The transition between Elijah and Elisha contained two specific elements.  The Mantle and a double portion of Elijahs spirit the Elisha asked for that Elijah said would occur if Elisha was with Elijah when he was taken up and he was.  
 
II Kings 2:11-15. (TLV)  As they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 As Elisha was watching, he was crying out, “Avi! Avi! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” Then he saw him no more. So he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He then picked up (Va’Yarem: pick up, lift up, elevate, raised, lifted, promotion) the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. When he returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan, 14 he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off him, struck the waters and said, “Where is Adonai , the God of Elijah?” As he indeed struck the waters, they parted here then there. Then Elisha crossed over. 15 When the sons of the prophets at Jericho saw him some way off, they said, “The spirit of Elijah has rested on Elisha.” So they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. '
 
To get the promotion, to walk in a double portion mantle of Elijah, Elisha had to pick it up!  He had to lift it up, he had to pick it up before he was promoted to the office of Elijah!  The Spirit of Elijah didn’t rest upon him until He picked it up!  There is action involved here on Elisha’s part as well as action required on our part to walk in our mantle!  WE must be moving in a double portion of the Spirit, and we must pick up, take, receive the mantle that’s before us!
 
I Corinthians 15:46. (TLV) 'However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. '

First the physical then the spiritual.  The seeds of our Mantle, the “One New Man”, Jew and Gentile reconciliation were planted at the Jamestown settlement 419 years ago in a prayer that was spoken twice a day at the main gate of Jamestown Fort. The following is a direct quote from this prayer exactly as it was written in the book “Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall for the Colony of Virginea”-Printed in the year 1612. “A Praier duly said Morning and Evening upon the Court of Guard, either by the Captaine of the watch himselfe, or by some one of his principall officers”.
 
“Confound thou O God all the counsel and practices of Satan and his ministers, which are or shall be taken up against thee, and the kingdome of thy deare sonne. And call in the Jewes together with the fulnesse of the gentiles, that thy name may be glorious in al the world, the dayes of iniquity may come to an end, and we with all thine elect people may come to see thy face in glorie, and be filled with the light thereof for evermore.”
 
We must pick up our mantel and go forward!  The Modern Messianic Move began in England in 1867 with the formation of the Hebrew Christian Alliance.  50 years later the Balfor Declaration in 1917, 50 years after this Jerusalem is restored back to us in June 1967, and now?  The salvation of our people, ALL ISRASEL!  
 
We’ve been given the greatest Kingdom opportunities in biblical history! Kadima!  Let’s move forward!
 
Blessings and Shalom,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

In political science and political history, the term power vacuum is an analogy between a physical vacuum and a political condition: When a leader has lost control of something and there is no one in line to replace them. Such a situation can occur when a government has no identifiable central power structure or authority or is one that is weak.  The analogy explains that in a power vacuum, other forces or another power will "rush in" to fill the vacuum as soon as it is created, perhaps in the form of an armed militia, insurgents, a military coup, a warlord or a dictator.
 
During or following a civil war there is often a power vacuum of some sort. A power vacuum can also occur following a constitutional crisis in which large portions of the government resign or are removed, creating unclear paths regarding succession to positions of power.
 
Throughout history, power vacuums have been dangerous. They lead to great uncertainty and apprehension as people wonder what will happen next.  A power vacuum results in a lack of vision!  This is recorded in Proverbs:
 
Proverbs 29:18. 18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy.
 
Within nations, it may lead to social unrest, chaos, or anarchy! The result may be outright civil war, as non-righteous, wicked individuals step forward to grab power.  Internationally, they can lead too regional conflicts or even worse world wars as non-righteous nations see opportunities to gain more for themselves at the expense of their weaker neighbors.
 
This is a biblical, scriptural, heavenly concept.  When there is a lack of righteous, Kingdom leadership, a power vacuum arises that is quickly filled with evil, wickedness, and deceit.  
 
II Timothy 3:1-5.  Moreover, understand this: in the acharit-hayamim will come trying times. 2 People will be self-loving, money-loving, proud, arrogant, insulting, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, 4 traitorous, headstrong, swollen with conceit, loving pleasure rather than God, 5 as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power. Stay away from these people!
 
There is an attempt to change America’s history, to remove Adonai from our birth and foundation as a nation.  To separate ourselves as a nation from God is to deny the power of Adonai known as apostasy: From the Greek word Apostasia, which in ancient Greek culture means open insurrection, political revolt, rebellion, wholescale defiance against Adonai, His Kingdom, His word, and His Son! Its open rebellion and sedition against the Commands, Mitzvahs, and instructions of Adonai! It’s rejecting His word, His Son, His Ruach HaKodesh, and His Kingdom!! It’s a Political Revolt against His Theocracy! This is the enemies age old plan, to thwart the Kingdom of God and establish his own demonic kingdom upon the earth.
 
Denying the power of God results in a power vacuum that is quickly flooded with evil, wicked, and unrighteous power.  It is far harder to remove it once it’s become entrenched then to stop it before the vacuum is created.  We have a biblical history that records the effects Power Vacuums:  
 
Judges 2:10-15.  When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither ADONAI nor the work he had done for Isra'el. 11 Then the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and served the ba'alim. 12 They abandoned ADONAI, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, selected from the gods of the peoples around them, and worshipped them; this made ADONAI angry. 13 They abandoned ADONAI and served Ba'al and the 'ashtarot. 14 The anger of ADONAI blazed against Isra'el; and he handed them over to pillagers, who plundered them, and to their enemies around them; so that they could no longer resist their enemies. 15 Whenever they launched an attack, the power of ADONAI was against them, so that things turned out badly - just as ADONAI had said would happen and had sworn to them. They were in dire distress.
 
We are at a crossroads as a Nation, a generation is arising that doesn’t know Adonai nor His previous blessing upon us! They are abandoning Him. The “get it done” generation that sacrificed their lives, livelihoods, and lifestyles to unite against a worldwide onslaught spread of tyranny, terror, hatred, Anti-Semitism, and socialism/communism that threatened freedom around the world is gone. This year we lost the last surviving sailor that was onboard the USS Arizona on Dec 7th, 1941. A generation that rationed food, fuel, clothes, and personal comfort to resolutely, in complete unity defeat a global enemy is gone, my own 100-year-old father passed away in August 2023. He was literally one of the last! A generation that relied on God, that prayed in school every morning, had bible study in school, started every government meeting and every sporting event with prayer.  A generation that placed morality, righteousness, and holy living above all else. The generation that added “Under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. They are all gone!
 
A generation is arising that doesn’t know the pain of sacrifice! A generation that isn’t unified or resolute in defeating the rising tide of global aggression, hatred, anarchy, and antisemitism.  A generation that is self-loving, money-loving, proud, arrogant, insulting, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, traitorous, headstrong, swollen with conceit, loving pleasure rather than God is quickly rising to prominence!  As in Israel’s history:
 
Judges 17:6. At that time there was no king in Isra'el; a man simply did whatever he thought was right.  
 
Remember, in a righteousness power vacuum, evil and wickedness quickly flood the void. The previous generation, the do it generation sent their political candidates running for office to the men and woman of God to vet and bless them.  Today Americas society rejects God, they know not the God that delivered us twice from the British, who built this nation by His providence, who saw us through the bloodiest war in Americas history, the Civil War!  The same God who carried us through WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII!  They know not the God who made us the richest, strongest, and most blessed nation on the earth! We are warned:  
 
Deuteronomy 8:11-19. "Be careful not to forget ADONAI your God by not obeying his mitzvot, rulings and regulations that I am giving you today. 12 Otherwise, after you have eaten and are satisfied, built fine houses and lived in them, 13 and increased your herds, flocks, silver, gold and everything else you own, 14 you will become proud-hearted. Forgetting ADONAI your God - who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves; 15 who led you through the vast and fearsome desert, with its poisonous snakes, scorpions and waterless, thirsty ground; who brought water out of flint rock for you; 16 who fed you in the desert with man, unknown to your ancestors; all the while humbling and testing you in order to do you good in the end - 17 you will think to yourself, 'My own power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18 No, you are to remember ADONAI your God, because it is he who is giving you the power (Koach: capacity, means, strength, power, might) to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today. 19 If you forget ADONAI your God, follow other gods and serve and worship them, I am warning you in advance today that you will certainly perish.
 
God knew that when a society, a nation becomes rich, wealthy, and safe that it tends to focus inward and away from Him!  That it begins to think, in their blessed environment of safety, security, and wealth given by God that they obtained it by themselves!  That they would become proud hearted and forget who brought them through all the trials and tribulations, who blessed our fertile land and brought rain at the right season.  Who cleared that land of vermin and pestilence?  Who increased our flocks, our crops, and made us the wealthiest nation on earth!  Now we choose to turn our backs on Him and were experiencing odd weather phenomenon, wars and rumors of wars, ethnic wars, famines, pandemics, people betraying each other, vile polarization of our nation, while our love grows cold because of increased distance from Torah, everything has warned us that He will do if we forget Him!
 
Verse 18 contains a whole other message! Adonai doesn’t just give you everything.  He gives YOU the power, the capacity, the means, the strength, the ability to gain wealth.  He has given you gifts, wisdom, knowledge and power to work, tithe, and change your stay in life! You must work for it. He’s not giving you everything on a silver platter.  Yeshua talks about the power struggle in:
 
Matthew 12:29. "Or again, how can someone break into a strong man's house and make off with his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? After that he can ransack his house.  
 
The power vacuum doesn’t just happen by accident.  The enemy can only come in if the strong man is bound!  Who is that?  It’s us, it’s you, it’s me, it’s every believer in the body of Messiah.  It's every believer that remains silent in the face of wickedness and evil.  Its every believer who fails to vote with a biblical world view, its every believer who would vote for someone who is pro-abortion, every believer who would vote for someone who stands against Israel, its every believer who doesn’t vote according to biblical morals and ethics. It’s every believer who is part of the silent majority, every believer who won’t stand up and raise their voice for justice.  Every believer who falls into the trap of political correctness. Every believer who will not stand for the Kingdom of Adonai, truth and righteousness. Every believer who won’t share the Gospel! The late Elie Wiesel, Jewish author and survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps said: “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. The opposite of beauty is not ugliness; it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it’s indifference.” It all causes a power vacuum.
 
We have a chilling similar biblical account of another power vacuum in David’s day.  Saul was so distracted, so busy trying to kill David that he failed to properly protect and defend his people and nation.  One can be so mired in the minutia of special interest politics that they fail to properly do their job of protecting and defending the nation and its citizens.  This is what Saul fell into and it cost them dearly when the Philistines attacked and routed Israel:
 
I Samuel 31:6-10. Thus Sha'ul, his three sons, his armor-bearer and all his men died that same day together. 7 When the men of Isra'el who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the far side of the Yarden saw that the men of Isra'el had fled and that Sha'ul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; then the P'lishtim came and lived in them. 8 The following day, when the P'lishtim came to strip the dead, they found Sha'ul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head, stripped off his armor and sent these all over the territory of the P'lishtim to carry the news to the temples of their idols and to the people. 10 Then they put his armor in the temple for the 'ashtarot and fastened his body to the wall of Beit-Sh'an.  
 
The Army of God, the men of Israel fled when they witnessed Saul fall.  They abandoned their cities while the Philistines came and lived in them.  Saul’s death was mocked when the Philistines placed his weapons in their temple.  Saul’s dishonor had reached its climax, defeated, beheaded, and his body and those of his sons hung on the walls of Bet-S’hean.  The Philistines were known to mutilate the bodies of their enemies to disgrace and shame them just as Hamas does today.  This Vacuum set the stage for Davids Kingship but not immediately, crowned King of Judah David, he ruled from Hevron until the other tribes finally came together and made him king of all Israel years later. I pray following will help you know if you are living in a Spiritual Vacuum:  
 
Seven Signs you are living in a “Spiritual Vacuum”
 
1. You talk about Yeshua but haven’t genuinely experienced him. He’s distant and unreal in your everyday life.  You know of Him, but you don’t KNOW Him, you don’t SEE Him.  You talked about Him more than you talk with Him.  You’re not hearing is voice!  
 
2. Your spiritual walk with Yeshua is more of a weekly service event, vice a daily, 24/7 walk with Him.  Religious services define your experience with Yeshua vice Yeshua defining your life experiences.  He is not a reality every day of your life!
 
3. Your walk with God is a façade of religion while the power is denied.  You may do and say all the right things, avoid all the wrong things, but you are not demonstrating the Power of God.  Your walk is an outward appearance of religion, going through the motions while not experiencing and demonstrating the Power of God.  
 
4. There are no supernatural, transformational changes visible in your life or there hasn’t been any life change experienced in a long while.  Your Godly relationship has plateaued even though you’re doing all the right things.  It’s impossible to genuinely experience Yeshua and remain unchanged!  No personal change is a profound sign that your spiritual life is in a spiritual vacuum.  World revival begins with personal revival!
 
5. You are more concerned about God fitting into your life and desires vice aligning your life to align and fit into Gods will and desire.  
 
6. You live unnoticed as a believer by the people around you such as neighbors, work associates, school mates, friends and family!  The people around you can’t tell you follow Yeshua by being around you!  You’re not visibly different than those around you because there’s nothing to notice.  You’re not sought after for advice or help when their lives are in turmoil because they don’t see Yeshua in you.
 
7. You live for the moment vice establishing your life in eternity.  You live by and in the world vice being in it but not of it. You don’t have a global messianic vision.  You are not an agent of change in this world.  
 
I pray you have a transformational year of renewal and dunamis power! May you be world changer wherever you go! May you experience a Road to Damascus encounter with the Most High God this year!  
 
Blessings and Shalom,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson  

Shalom Mishpocha, 
 
Happy New Year! We have entered the Gregorian Calendar year of 2026. The 1st of Nisan (the Biblical New Year) begins at sunset, Wednesday March 18th, 2026, beginning the year 5786. January is the first month of the year, named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who had two faces looking at the past and the future. The months of January and February were not originally in the ancient Roman calendar as the winter months were considered dormant, both in terms of agriculture and in terms of making war. This was a time of peace. Until 450 BCE, the Roman calendar was 10 months, beginning in March (Martius), due to the March Equinox. Remember, March was named for “Mars,” the god of War who was also an agricultural guardian.  
 
Let’s look at the prophetic meaning of the year 5786/2026. Hebrew letters also serve as numbers, so every year’s number can be read as a word or phrase: 
 
5000: Heh, “behold” or “the” when added before word. The number 5 represents grace, God’s unmerited favor through His empowering presence.  It signifies victory and divine enablement!  
 
700: Shin, often tied to fire, divine energy, or transformation. The number 7 (Sheva in Hebrew) is the DNA, the building blocks of creation. Seven is the central key to God’s creation and design.  The world was created in seven days.  There are seven feasts of the Lord in the annual feast day cycle.  There are Sheva festival days when work is forbidden.  Sheva days of Matzah!  Sheva days of Sukkot.  Sheva (seven) is the number of creation and is the number of perfection. It speaks of completion and perfection through warfare.   
 
80: Peh, means “mouth” in Hebrew. It’s linked to speech, proclamation, declaration, and prophecy. The Number 8 symbolizes new beginnings. It points to the transition from the old into the new, the breaking forth of a new day, and the power of renewal and transformation through Yeshua. 
 
6: Vav, means “hook” it relates to connection, unity, joining heaven and earth. The Number 6 is associated with humankind, as humanity was created on the sixth day. It functions as a nail that fixes two things together or as a hook that draws something into place.  Symbolically, it is the divine link between Heaven and Earth. 
 
So, 5786 can be read as: “The year of connecting (Vav) through the mouth (Peh), with divine fire/energy (Shin).” It’s a year of Divine Connections, Divine Shifts and Divine Alignments from Heaven to our Earth. 
 
The number 26 from the year 2026 in the gematria is the value of God's Name YHWH, symbolizes authority and love, marking a year with divine connections and the fulfillment of long-awaited promises. 2026 is described as a year of reaping, where believers are expected to witness the fulfillment of prophecies and the manifestation of God's Word in power. This new year will be one of the most significant transitional shifts that we will see and experience. This New Year will be one of divine connections, radical divine shifts, coupled with divine alignments with the authority of Kingdom of Adonai! Nations will feel this radical shift profoundly. Political, economic, and spiritual strongholds will not remain the same. Adonai is connecting, aligning, and joining us into His Heavenly purposes here on the earth. We must live our lives in this new year with great biblical intentionality! 
 
Friday January 9th, 2026, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day or L.E.A.D. It is a day to express our gratitude to our police officers for all their hard work and for protecting the community. Those who serve as police officers put their lives on the line every day! They are not appreciated enough. Pay for their meal if you see them at a restaurant or purchase food gift cards to give to our men and woman in blue! They will appreciate it! Thank you to all of our law enforcement for protecting us every day! 
 
Monday, January 19th, 2026, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (observed). This holiday is held on the third Monday in January and honors the principles of this civil rights leader and Nobel Prize Winner dedicated to change through nonviolence. Dr. King also organized and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, and labor rights in addition to basic civil rights. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are attributed, in part, to the works of Dr. King. 
 
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an important day to remember the atrocities of the genocide carried out against Jewish people and other marginalized groups during WWII by Nazi Germany. This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day is on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. As we continue to suffer rising, rabid antisemitism, anti-Israel sentiment, we must remember what happened 85 years ago in Germany. We must remember what happened in Israel on October 7th, 2023. Never again is now! Am Israel Chai! 
 
 
Blessings and Shalom! 
 
 
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson 

Planting and building a Messianic Congregation is unlike any other work or ministry within the body of Messiah.  Jewish believers come to the body with over 4,000 years of biblical history and heavenly mandates coupled with the oracles of God! Paul described this in
 
Romans 9:4-5. the people of Isra'el! They were made God's children, the Sh'khinah has been with them, the covenants are theirs, likewise the giving of the Torah, the Temple service and the promises; 5 the Patriarchs are theirs; and from them, as far as his physical descent is concerned, came the Messiah, who is over all. Praised be ADONAI for ever! Amen.

For a Jewish person, our biblical expression of messianic worship and lifestyle is second nature, it connects directly with our soul, with our neshamah! The difficulties arise in separating manmade traditions of legalistic observances and practices compared with what Torah actually commands.  A common example I use is Sukkot.  If you Google how to build a Sukkah for Sukkot, your search results will contain thousands of Orthodox Jewish web pages detailing very specific rabbinical instructions on how to do this, what material to use, and the specific amounts.  What does the word of God say?
 
Leviticus 23:42-43.  You are to live in sukkot for seven days; every citizen of Isra'el is to live in a sukkah, 43 so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Isra'el live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI your God.'"
 
Sukkah in Hebrew means a temporary booth or hut (as of entwined boughs); also a lair, den, pavilion, or a tabernacle.  I find it extremely interesting; in fact it’s a reflection of corrupted human nature.  Where God is not specific and has given us leeway and freedom to worship Him such as Sukkot and building a temporary structure that people become legalistic and want to confine that freedom and limit our expression of worship!  Yet, in other areas of scripture God is very specific and confines our behaviors and activities to protect us (such as dietary and sexual impurities laws) and we as humans want to argue those areas and inject a freedom and leeway that is not found in God’s word!  This brings me to a point here, God’s word defines who we are in Him!  God’s word is both our cultural and moral metric, the threshold of both holy and righteous lifestyles that establish our heavenly identity for both Jew and Gentile alike. The word of God is what defines us and binds us together as one!  Sha’ul defines this so clearly and succinctly in:

Romans 2:13. For it is not merely the hearers of Torah whom God considers righteous; rather, it is the doers of what Torah says who will be made righteous in God's sight.
 
Hearers in the Greek is akroates {ak-ro-at-ace'}, to hear, to listen.  In the Hebrew the term is “Shema”.  Being like the Good People of Berea we must check this out and go back to the first time Shema is mentioned in scripture.  Most are familiar with the following passage:
 
Deuteronomy 6:4. "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one];

The term Shema is derived from the Hebrew root shin, mem, ayin. Sh'ma is a noun that is most often translated as hear or hearing. On a side note, the word for rumor is shmu-aw; the plural, rumors, is shmu-aws. If that word for rumors, shmu-aws, sounds vaguely familiar, it should. For rumors, shmu-aws, is the basis of that wildly popular yiddish-american word, “schmooze”. So the next time you hear or use the word schmooze, and that probably won’t take very long, you will I’m sure recall that the Hebrew root of “schmooze” is shin, mem, ayin, and from that you will be reminded of the daily obligation of the recitation of the Shema.
 
The Shema marks the declaration that God is One. If someone doesn't understand Hebrew, they might read this verse "Here, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deu.6:4) and think that Adonai doesn’t exist as a triune nature or in plurality! This however is not the case, the word used in Hebrew is echad.
 
The word echad, or “one” as it appears in the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy 6:4, doesn't mean one, Yachid in modern Hebrew means singular or Aleph in biblical Hebrew means one. Echad means more than one part, a compound, a complex unity, oneness through plurality.
 
For example, in Exodus 26:6 the various parts of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) are to be constructed so that "it shall be one (echad) tabernacle," and Ezekiel spoke of two "sticks" (representing a divided nation) as being reunited into one: "and they shall be one (echad) stick in My hand" (Ezekiel 37:19).
 
So scripturally we see that Echad is a completeness through pluralism!  The root word of Echad is “Ached”:  It means to unify, to be in accord, in unison, no more separate parts!  
Shema (Sh'ma), in the gematria has a numerical value of 410, the same as the word Kadosh, Holy.  But the root shin, mem, ayin has other meanings, particularly “understand” and “obey”.   A powerful example of this is in one of the most famous places where the same root word appears. After Moses writes down the Book of the Covenant, the people respond in:
 
Exodus 24:7. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, "Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do and obey."

“Na'aseh v’nishma” “Na-aseh” means “we will do”, but what does “nishma”, nun, shin, mem, ayin mean? The most common is “obey”, “be obedient" listen
 
“Moses took the book of the covenant and read it to the nation, and they said everything that Hashem tells us we shall keep and receive” - ‘Naase VeNishma’.  This reply given by Israel embodies a profound secret that only a few Hebrew scholars and now you understand after what we've just shared.  N'ase is from the root Oseh, from O'seh Shalom Bimrumov--Oseh means do. add a nun which is plural N'ase we will do.  Same with Sh'ma. V'Nishma is Sh'ma with a nun added to make it plural so the heart and essence of the Sh'ma and what Israel answered to God upon hearing God's proposal was that they, Israel, would accept Torah even before knowing what it was all about!
 
This is the same exact concept Sha’ul is telling from Exodus in Romans 2:13 that it’s “not merely the hearers of Torah whom God considers righteous; rather, it is the doers of what Torah says who will be made righteous in God's sight.”  It’s not those who say they will hear and obey God, but it’ those who actually do so.  Doers in the Greek is poietes {poy-ay-tace'}, a doer, a performer, one who obeys, fulfills Torah!  “Na'aseh v’nishma”, those who hear and do are the ones who shall be made righteous for God!  You strife and work on righteousness every day!  Again, second nature for Jewish congregates but what about Gentiles?  The age old argument, surrounded by millennia of Hellenistic teaching and apostasy!  Sha’ul takes us there:

Romans 2:14. For whenever Gentiles, who have no Torah, do naturally what the Torah requires, then these, even though they don't have Torah, for themselves are Torah!

Whenever gentiles who have no Torah, as just about every believing Gentile who entered through our doors experienced when they first visited a Messianic synagogue, when Gentiles do naturally: phusis {foo'-sis} in the Greek means the natural order of things as opposed to abnormal or perverse, to bring forth, to grow, to be reborn into, to sprout.  When Gentiles do- poietes {poy-ay-tace'}, a doer, a performer, one who obeys, fulfills Torah naturally, when they sprout, grow, follow the heavenly natural order, and begin to bring forth Torah, even though they didn’t have it become for themselves: heautou {heh-ow-too'} in the Greek which means itself, they become Torah itself!  
 
Ephesus is an excellent study on this conceptually!  Ephesus was a city in Asia minor and the regional capital for that part of the Roman Empire.  The Kehillat, the Congregation Sha’ul seeded in Ephesus was comprised of Jew and Gentile in the Diaspora as we are.  This is topical and relevant to the message regarding Yeshua’s rebuke to the Congregation in Ephesus
 
Revelation 2:4-5. But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. 5 Therefore, remember where you were before you fell, turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place - if you don't turn from your sin!

Yeshua's warning to the Kehillat at Ephesus is stern; “turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before you fell”. I have spoken on this numerous times, I’ve heard many teachings on this. What is their "first love”? What have they fallen from, and what were their first works?  Ephesians tell us what Yeshua's issues are with them:
 
Ephesians 2:1-2.  You used to be dead because of your sins and acts of disobedience. 2 You walked in the ways of the 'olam hazeh and obeyed the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, who is still at work among the disobedient.

Ephesians 2:11-13. Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth - called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised - 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra'el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God's promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. 13 But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah's blood.

Sha'ul is specifically speaking to Gentiles within the Congregation at Ephesus.  He tells them that they were among those who walked according to the world, and were not living a biblical lifestyle like the rest of Israel!  Gentiles were strangers to God's word (Torah) and all of its covenants and promises until Yeshua came.  Now, through the blood of Yeshua Gentiles had become joint heirs, joint partakers in the greater commonwealth of Israel, not a new faith or a new religion as is taught today.
 
So, before the Kehillat or Congregation at Ephesus fell where were they?  They were walking in the truth and power of God's word!  Their salvation came through the blood of Yeshua, our sacrifice, as brought through the house of Israel.  Gentiles are grafted into or adopted into the commonwealth of Israel as fellow citizens of God's kingdom, a dwelling place for God's Glory!  This is part of the mystery that Sha'ul talks about here, it's Jew and Gentile coming together as one that makes the dwelling place for His Shekhinah, His presence, His glory!  This adoption or grafting in gives Gentiles all the same covenant promises that Israel has!
 
Through study, immersion into God’s word, and retention of the Mitzvah’s and commands of God through Torah, the Tanach, and the Brit Hadasha we develop awareness and understanding of our world (God’s Creation).  We develop Love of God, love for one another, character, integrity, purity, and we begin to reapply what we have learned, reshaping the world that we live in, transforming it according to God’s plan, not mans or the worlds.  Through prayer and fasting, we transform our minds and soul in conformity to the Kingdom of Heaven, adapting and reflecting a biblical lifestyle modeled after Messiah
Romans 2:15-16.  For their lives show that the conduct the Torah dictates is written in their hearts. Their consciences also bear witness to this, for their conflicting thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. 16 on a day when God passes judgment on people's inmost secrets. (According to the Good News as I proclaim it, he does this through the Messiah Yeshua.)

Written in the Greek is graptos {grap-tos'}, inscribed, written in their heart.  A circumcised heart, a heart that is in covenant with God and His word!!  This word inscribed in hearts witness to their consciences, suneidesis {soon-i'-day-sis} in the Greek, the conscience, the soul as distinguishing between morally good and morally bad.  When Torah is inscribed in the heart, you become torah therefore your thoughts are judged by your conscience according to what’s written on your heart.  Some thoughts are good, some not, some accuse, some defend, all based upon the metric of God’s word inscribed on your heart.  God judges the inmost secrets, Kruptos in Greek, the hidden, secret, concealed areas of the heart.  These hidden, concealed areas can only exist if Torah is not inscribed upon your heart.  The Good News of Yeshua inscribes Gods word into your heart, circumcising it.  Both Jew and Gentile.  It is how we both come together as one!

Ephesians 4:1-6.  Therefore I, the prisoner united with the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called. 2 Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, 3 and making every effort to preserve the unity (henotes {hen-ot-ace'} in the Greek, unity, oneness, agreement) the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to one hope. 5 And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, 6 and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.

Abba, Father, help us to live in harmony, to set aside our differences and focus on what truly matters: loving You and each another. We pray that You would give us hearts that are patient and humble, seeking to build bridges rather than walls. As Shaul prayed in Ephesians 4:4-6 and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to one hope. 5 And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, 6 and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.
 
In Yeshua’s name I pray. Amen
 
Blessings and Shalom.
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

As Jews we are tied to this Gentile Christmas season whether we like it or not.  The ENTIRE WORLD (secular and Christian alike) pauses December 25th to recognize and celebrate the birth of a Jewish baby, the Mashiach 2,000 years ago. Such a momentous event that has changed [EC1] time! Before you judge me, hear me out for a moment. This time of year, I listen to the holiday channel on Sirius Radio.  I love the jazz/Big Band music of Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Garibaldi, Louis Armstrong, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, most are jazz songs or winter songs that should play all winter but don’t. And yes, there are Christmas Songs being played! Many singing about “Born is the King of Israel”, “O little town of Bethlehem”, “O Come Emmanuel” “Joy to the World” based on Gen 3, and Psalm 96 & 98! A majority of the holiday songs are written and performed by Jews! How did this event get so far off track when even its music is Jewish? It’s about the supernatural birth of Yeshua, Mashiach, an event that affected all humanity:
 
Luke 2:7-14. and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters. 8 In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, 9 when an angel of ADONAI appeared to them, and the Sh'khinah of ADONAI shone around them. They were terrified; 10 but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough." 13 Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God: 14 "In the highest heaven, glory to God! And on earth, peace among people of good will!"
 
This story of Yeshua’s birth begins over 1,283 years prior to His arrival with a Gentile woman who loved the Jewish people, Ruth! Ruth was a Moabite whose Jewish husband died. Instead of going back to her own people, she clung to her mother-in-law Naomi:
 
Ruth 1:16-19. But Rut said, "Don't press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. May ADONAI bring terrible curses on me, and worse ones as well, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Na'omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Beit-Lechem. When they arrived in Beit-Lechem, the whole city was stirred with excitement over them. The women asked, "Can this be Na'omi?"

This is the model for the church’s relationship to Israel and the Jewish people. Ruth's reputation, her humility, and Character preceded her! She was already known by the city elders at the city gate for her loyalty, support, and commitment to Naomi through her gleaning in Boaz’s fields, Elimelekh’s kinsman redeemer. She catches the eye of Boaz who offers to take Ruth as his wife and be Naomi’s redeeming kinsman. Boaz takes the case to the elders at the city gate and Ruth and Naomi are redeemed by Boaz.  Where is Boaz from? Bethlehem. Where is Yeshua born??? Bethlehem!  The people there make a prophetic proclamation at the city gate over the gentile Ruth when she is redeemed by Boaz, her Jewish husband:

Ruth 4:11-12. All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le'ah, who between them built up the house of Isra'el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem. 12 May your house, because of the seed ADONAI will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y'hudah."

Boaz and Ruth became husband and wife and Ruth became pregnant: ” …Ruth …  gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: ‘"Blessed be ADONAI, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra'el. 'Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.’” (Ruth 4:11-17)

Ruth is the great-grandmother of David, Yeshua’s lineages is of the Son of David. Those blessings over Ruth were prophetic and referred to the coming Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz. The women referred to Obed as a redeemer, just as Boaz was, but prophetically, they were speaking about the Redeemer of all humanity: Yeshua!
 
Those elders at the city gate thought that Boaz’s redeeming Elimelekh’s estate was just another real-estate settlement yet when it happened the Spirit of God falls on them when Ruth is legally given to Boaz. They prophesied these prophecies over this gentile woman, “We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le'ah, who between them built up the house of Isra'el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem.” (Ruth 4:11) They were actually prophesying about the Messiah and the location of His birth as confirmed by the prophet Micah, who said:
 
Micah 5:2. But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.

How profound, when they said, “become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y'hudah,” they were again prophesying a large, vast Jewish family line that has a prophetic promise connected with it! They unwittingly were prophesying about the entire Body of Messiah that would come forth through the Tribe of Judah.

Genesis 49:10. The scepter will not pass from Y'hudah, nor the ruler's staff from between his legs, until he (Shiloh in Hebrew: epitaph of the Messiah, a Messianic Title) comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is he whom the peoples will obey.

The very embodiment and fulfillment of God’s covenant promise, of His redemption and salvation of both Jew and Gentile through the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  Judah became his own kinsman redeemer through his daughter in law Tamar after both his sons died. The same Judah stood in the gap to prevent his brothers from murdering Yosef, it was Judah’s idea to sell him to the Ishmaelites as a slave. Profoundly it was also Judah who offered himself in the place of his brother Benjamin before Yosef in Egypt!

How detailed is Adonai? The saying “God is in the details” is used to emphasize the importance of paying careful attention to the tiniest things. That principle holds, but there is a deeper understanding that we see in these passages alone, our Creator reigns fully over every minute detail. Nothing ever occurs outside of Adonai’s decree and providential rule. This reveals to us a significance in all that we do, even the most minor, small thing! Let’s continue to read of Yeshua’s birth:

Luke 2:22-32. When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to ADONAI 23 (as it is written in the Torah of ADONAI, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to ADONAI") 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Torah of ADONAI. 25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim`on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra'el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of ADONAI. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim`on took him in his arms, made a b'rakhah to God, and said, 29 "Now, ADONAI, according to your word, your servant is at peace as you let him go; 30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu`ah, 31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples -- 32 a light (apokalupsis {ap-ok-al'-oop-sis}: light, disclosure of truth, a revelation, manifestation) that will bring revelation to the Goyim and glory to your people Isra'el."

Simeon was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra'el, He had attentive expectancy! The Ruach HaKodesh was upon Simeon, and he was righteous and devout. The two facts are directly connected. Simeon wasn’t perfect, but he was someone who walked in God’s ways with great intentionality! Simeon was serious about it. He knew what he was looking for, and was in tune with God. Same with Anna. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)
 
A word for us today, we must worship and listen, carefully, and attentively while waiting! Simeon and Anna were paying attention. They were listening, and they were expectant. Like our day today, we all know something is happening! We must listen, be attentive, with expectancy! Simeon and Anna were attentive and All the People, the Goyim, the nations, and Israel will see, witness, and experience salvation, redemption, this light, this revelation of truth!

Messiah has come bringing revelation of to the Gentiles and glory to His people Israel! The nations shall see the light! God’s plan all along was for Israel to be the light bearer of all of humanity! The standard of truth and revelation regarding Adonai! We are not to be exclusive, selfishly keeping God to ourselves, rather, we are to bring the God of Israel to the world, proclaiming His Glory! Our lifestyle is to be an example to those who do not know God. We are to be the light to a darkened world!  

Isaiah 49:6. he has said, "It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya'akov and restore the offspring of Isra'el. I will also make you a light ('owr {ore}: light, light of life, light of instruction, Adonai as Israel's light, enlightenment) to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth."

This light goes all the way back to creation itself! It was the light, the “ore” of Adonai, the revelation of the “Great I Am” that divided, separated the light from the darkness…all before He created the sun, the moon, and stars!
 
Genesis 1:3-5.  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God divided the light from the darkness (Choshech: darkness; misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness). 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.

Choshech’s root word Chosh: lacking, missing, unenergetic, lacking energy, powerless, beyond repair, aimless, chaotic, hopeless, feared, suspected, worthless, meaningless. Darkness or Choshech are all of these attributes!  The enemy, HaSatan, the Devil, the Prince of Darkness is chosech or darkness. The light here is the same as Isaiah 49:6 “Or” illumination, revelation, joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directive, order, puts in order, woke up, and roused. Light is all of these terms! Yeshua is our “Or”, our light of the world as we read in Luke 2! Yeshua is the physical manifestation of Adonai’s revelation on earth, as Sha’ul so eloquently shared the impact Yeshua had in:
 
Colossians 1:13-16. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14 It is through his Son that we have redemption - that is, our sins have been forgiven. 15 He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is supreme over all creation, 16 because in connection with him were created all things - in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers or authorities - they have all been created through him and for him.
 
In connection with Him, with Yeshua were created all things; through Him and for Him! The light reveals the knowledge and order of Adonai! Each and every day begins at sunset and is a recreation, a reminder of God’s creation of the universe.  Each day begins just as the universes began, in darkness; powerless, aimless, hopeless, feared, suspected, worthless, meaningless and streams towards the light, the knowledge, the illumination, the revelations of God Himself who separated this hopelessness with His very being which is joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directives, power, order, perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity, and love. Yeshua Himself is the ULTIMATE manifestation of this light!
 
John 8:12. Yeshua spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life."

His unique divine identity and purpose. In declaring Himself to be the "Light of the world, Yeshua reveals that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. He is His Fathers Son, whose very light formed creation, dividing the powerless, aimless, chaotic, hopeless, darkness from the light!!  The light was manifest in the flesh and born into this world through a virgin birth by a young Jewish girl…. Yeshua is confirming to those who already know, while at the same time revealing to those who do not yet know, that He is the Light of the world. He is the Hope, He is the Way. He is our Light, our everlasting Light.  It is Yeshua whom each of us must look to and receive, Jew and Gentile alike, in order to overcome the darkness that is in this world.
 
John 1:4-5. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.

God’s or, His light is Life itself and darkness cannot overcome it!
 
I John 1:5. And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him - none!

That means His Glory is absolute. Adonai is pure bright Light that shines like the sun on all sides of the world… there is no darkness in Him, He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent! He is the source of all prophecy, all revelation, and the author of life! This is so important that Adonai sent His only Son, Yeshua to both declare and impart this light to us, to all mankind, Jew and Gentile, Male and female, so that those who perceive and receive the “true Light” will never walk in spiritual darkness! Darkness can only exist where light is not present.  Once light appears, regardless of how small, it causes the darkness to flee. It cannot stay. This is how Christmas should be celebrated, arise and shine, the light has come, nations will stream toward Your light, kings towards your shinning splendor (Isaiah 60)! This is what should be shared and celebrated on this day by those who don’t know the actual day. This is the real story of Charlie Brown!
 
Out of 196 countries worldwide, 160 celebrate Christmas in some form. That calculates to 81% of the world’s population. Since only 32% are Christian, what is the other 49% celebrating? Some sort of a birthday party, even though 49% don’t know whose birthday they’re celebrating. There are two motivations at the core of their celebration, altruism or capital gain. On the surface, altruism seems a noble attitude but is severely hampered by our corrupt nature. A flawed effort to duplicate the light of God without possessing the light. Capital Gain is the other major motivator with over a trillion dollars spent on Christmas in America alone! Many retailers share that over 70% of their annual revenue is from Christmas shopping alone.  The monetary and cultural impact of this is huge.  Because of the money involved we are bombarded by all media sources to get out and shop and celebrate and it starts earlier and earlier every year!  

Let's not antagonize and demand an end to Christmas, rather let us be an example, a loving correction, a confirming voice that the story is true even though December 25th isn’t the day. Let us be influential vice antagonistic.  Almost the entire world pauses to celebrate the birth of Israel's most famous Jewish Son. As we acknowledge and recognize that the entire world is pausing to celebrate the birth of our Messiah let it not get muddled in the traditions and paraphernalia of the season, rather let us focus upon the light that came into this world 2,000 years ago to set us free!!! Let's celebrate Yeshua!
 
In His Love,
 
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
    

We pray you had a blessed and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! As we have entered into the month of December, we look forward to the M.J.A.A. Southeast Regional Conference December 19th-21st, 2025 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando Florida! It is a powerful, supernatural weekend of Messianic praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship! Emmanual Roro, Paul Wilbur, and the Nesbitts will be our guest psalmists! Dr. Raleigh Washington is teaching this year’s Yeshiva course. The fighting continues in Israel! It has never been more important to stand with us than right now! Put action to your love and join us in solidarity with Israel! This is a weekend you don’t want to miss!

https://mjaa.org/southeast2025/

        December's name derives from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus in  750 BC, which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name. December contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours that occurs Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 A.M. On the day of the winter solstice, we are tilted as far away from the Sun as possible, which means that the Sun’s path across the sky is as low in the sky as it can be.

December is the month that we celebrate Hanukkah which begins Sunday, December 14th, 2025, at sunset. The last day of Hanukkah begins Sunday, December 21st, 2025, at sunset. Around 170 BC the Greeks under Antiochus IV Epiphanies desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig at the altar. Antiochus tried to eliminate Judaism, not so much by killing the Jews as by forbidding the Worship of the God of Israel. Reading Torah was forbidden, along with circumcision, honoring the Sabbath, etc. In 167 BC a priest by the name of Mattityahu Hasmonea started guerrilla warfare along with his sons and a few followers. What they did in the hill country of Judea and Samaria was so amazing that books on their exploits are still studied by modern guerrilla fighters. Early in the war Judas Hasmonea took over after his father's death and he is the one who came up with the legendary tactics. His motto was "Mi Camokha Ba Elim Adona'y," from Exodus 15:11. The translation is: "Who is Like You, Oh Lord, Among the Mighty."

The initials of those words spell Maccabee, which is the name that was later applied to Judas and his followers. Although spelled differently in Hebrew, the Hebrew word for hammer sounds like maccabee. Therefore, he was called "The Hammer," which in Hebrew is Maccabeus, so the books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha were written about their successful wars. In 164 BC they took over the temple. This was the first war fought over a principle, religious freedom, and was the first successful guerrilla war, paralleling our American Revolution, also fought over principle, using guerrilla tactics. Yeshua observed Hanukkah:

John 10:22-23.  Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo's Colonnade.

Yeshua is the light of the world! This Hanukkah let your light shine forth:
Matthew 5:16. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

We’ve included a “How to Celebrate Hannukah “guide” in this Newsletter.
Tuesday, December 2nd,2025 is the National Day of Giving! The National Day of Giving takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November. Did you know that the National Day of Giving was only created in 2012? The National Day of Giving, also known as Giving Tuesday or Global Day of Giving follows three major shopping days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is created to unleash the power of radical generosity by giving a healthy donation to Non-profits and charitable organizations such as Congregation Zion’s Sake. Click on the link below to donate!

https://subsplash.com/u/-7G7VWJ/give?frequency=once&next_process_date=05/06/2025
       
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Germany and Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is a day we should never forget!

On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died because of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii.

And last, but not least, Thursday, December 25th, 2025 is Christmas!  A holiday to commemorate the birth of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua! This day is celebrated by 81% of the world’s population. 160 countries out of 196 total celebrate Christmas in some form or fashion! Since it is a Federal Holiday, our offices will be closed! Since Messianic Believers (both Jew and Gentile) don't celebrate Christmas, what do we do on December 25th?

It's tough to find something to do on Christmas, because just about everything is closed! Except on Christmas, even the grocery stores are closed! But here are a few of the more popular Jewish December 25th activities! We go out for Chinese food on Christmas. There is even a meme of a sign on a Chinese Restaurant (not real!) from the "Chinese Restaurant Association" thanking the Jewish People that our God insists that we eat their food on Christmas! The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas any more than Jews do, so most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas.

Another tradition is to go to the movies. Many movie theaters are open on Christmas day, particularly in the afternoon (after 4PM). Of course, nowadays, if you're not up for going to a movie in person, you can stream them at home. Whatever you choose to do we pray you have a blessed and wonderful December as we prepare to enter into the new Gregorian Calendar year of 2026!

Blessings and love,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson

The cool winds of November have arrived! For those of us who live here in Coastal Virginia November is a fall month of harvest, pumpkin pies, and the peak of our fall colorful leaves. November is a month filled with warmth, reflection, and preparation. As autumn transitions to winter in the Northern Hemisphere and spring blooms into summer in the Southern Hemisphere, November offers a mix of seasonal beauty and cultural richness. It’s a time for gratitude, with Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States, and a period for honoring history and traditions through observances Veterans Day. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 27th, 2025. November is the 11th month of the Gregorian calendar. Its name is derived from “novem”, Latin for “nine,” an indication of its position as the ninth month in the early Roman calendar. November is the last of four months to have a length of 30 days (the other three are April, June, and September). There is still time to register and attend the MJAA Southeast Reginal Conference in Orlando, Florida next month, December 19th – 21st, 2025! This conference is a profound way to show your love and support for the Jewish people! To stand with us in solidarity. https://mjaa.org/southeast2025/
 
     The official birthday of the United States Marine Corps is November 10, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Marines during the American Revolution. The Marine Corps celebrates this date annually to honor their legacy of honor, courage, and commitment. The United States Marines were tasked to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces. Its mission evolved with changing military doctrine and foreign policy of the United States. Owing to the availability of Marine forces at sea, the United States Marine Corps has served in nearly every conflict in United States history. This year marks the 250th Birthday Day of the United States Marine Corp! Happy Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) U.S. Marines! Semper Fi!

Veterans Day occurs on Tuesday November 11th, 2025 It is an official United States public holiday that honors military veterans, that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.  Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.
 
        We experienced the Presence of Adonai profoundly in our Yom Teruah, Ten Days of Awe, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah Services last September and October! A season of repenting, forgiveness, Joy and Happiness! We look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving as a nation. The traditional teaching for the "First Thanksgiving" is the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621, however that wasn’t the first. The Plymouth celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original thirteen colonies which became the United States. However, there was another, more modest Thanksgiving at Berkley Plantation, Virginia on the banks of the James River in 1619, two years before the Pilgrims even landed at Plymouth.

On December 4, 1619, after ten weeks at sea, thirty-eight English settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred, about 20 miles upstream from Jamestowne. Upon arrival Captain John Woodleaf held the first service of Thanksgiving as the newly landed settlers fell to their knees to thank God for their safe arrival. The Charter of Berkeley Hundred stated “We ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”
George Washington's October 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

The Thanksgiving celebration became an important part of the American history by the 1800s. Thanksgiving was modeled after the biblical celebration of Sukkot (which we just recently celebrated) when Israel thanked God for sustenance and provision in the desert wonderings.

Thanksgiving as we celebrate it today is one of copious amounts of food:  Turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravies, and numerous pies and is centered around Family!  Thanksgiving is the most travelled holiday in America, families reunite and come together, and for some it’s the only time of the year they do so.

The act of Thanksgiving is biblical, not the American holiday, but the act.  It is a sacrifice of thanks commanded in Torah where one gives heartfelt thanks to Adonai for many reasons including but not limited to: recovery from illness, delivered from danger, safe return home from a trip or journey, provision and sustenance, or any other reason for thanking Adonai for His blessings:

Leviticus 7:12. If a person offers it for giving thanks (todah {to-dah'}: to give thanks, laud, praise, to confess, give praise to God, songs of liturgical worship in the Psalms, hymn of praise, thanks offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving), he is to offer it with the thanksgiving sacrifice (Zevach Todah: Zevach is an animal sacrifice but is not a Korban, not a sin sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice of covenant righteousness-fellowship with God) of unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, matzah spread with olive oil, and cakes made of fine flour mixed with olive oil and fried.

Todah is an act of worship whose root word is Yadah, is from the root yad that means hand. So Yada is an extended hand, worshipping the Lord with extended hands. "Thanksgiving" (Todah) is an extension of the hands, avowal, adoration, the kehillah, the congregation of worshippers offering a sacrifice of praise.  In Leviticus 9:22 Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them after offering the sacrifice.  Raised hands signifies praise and worship, accepted of sacrifices, and blessings!  We raise our hands to give thanks for the blessings in our lives to the glory of God.  We find Yada being used when Adonai intervened in the affairs of His people with miraculous deliverance.  Yadah is our response to answered prayers and when Adonai reveals Himself through His word, through revelation, or the manifestation of His presence. Yadah is a believer’s natural response for Adonai’s blessing upon us or His divine intervention on our behalf. As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving give thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you and all that He will do for you! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever! This is the very purpose of this day, give Him thanks!!

May you have a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving!

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson!