Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of St. Petersburg, 6000 38th Avenue N, Saint Petersburg, FL (2026)

08/19/2026

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:18 Is. 54:1-10 Matthew 24:29-42
Ki Tezte – go out
Shalom, 8/19/26
This week’s Torah is so fitting as we are halfway through the month of Elul. Elul being the time we are to reflect and evaluate our standing with Adonai.
At least four times in these chapters Bnei-Yisrael are told to purge the evil from their midst.
Such things from cross dressing in Deuteronomy 22:5, to prostitution, adultery, r**e and kidnapping.
They were even told in Deuteronomy 23:13 how to “cover up what comes out of you.”
All had to be done away with so not to defile the land or the people.
In order to serve a Holy God, one must be a holy people free from defilement.
Every year it is a good idea to take stock of our personal finances to see where we stand.
When we had our company, we would take stock at least once a year and sometimes quarterly or even monthly. We didn’t want anything unexpected to turn up that we weren’t prepared for.
We took inventory so as not to come up short. All this was done to see what could be done better in the coming year to increase our productivity. To evaluate our growth.
Without these assessments we would have been stumbling in the dark not knowing what end was up thus there would be little to no growth.
We are at that time of year again where we are reminded to take such inventory of our walk with Adonai. To really focus in on our standing with Him so as not to continue to stumble in blindness with little to no growth. We can and should do that every day, but Elul and the Fall Feasts causes us to stop and meditate on the meaning of the “King is in the field.”
This world has gotten so far from Adonai we have to pause and wonder if the evil can ever be purged from our midst.
The very things Bnei-Yisrael were told to get rid of is present today on steroids. Promiscuity of every kind is rampant and is considered the norm. Morality is nothing more than a word out of the dark ages. Vows and marriage mean nothing more than someone I am with until I find someone better.
But there is a day coming very soon when the sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven. He will send out His angels with a great shofar, and they will gather together His chosen from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other. {Matthew 24:30-31}
In order to be gathered we must be ready. Are you ready??
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

08/19/2026

We will be doing a study on Adonai's Feasts starting with the Fall Feasts which are upon us. It is imperative to understand these feasts as they reveil the total picture of who Yeshua is. The study will start tomorrow, Thursday, August 20th at 7 PM. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. 6000 38th Ave N St. Pete. More info call 727-456-9200

08/12/2026

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 Isaiah 51:12-52:12 John 14:9-20
Shoftim – judges
Shalom, 8/12/26
In order to have righteousness and justice one must also have compassion and mercy so that unrighteous judgement need not be executed.
Ps. 89:15 says that righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.
They are the core pillars of God’s character.
Justice is so important than and now that in Deuteronomy 16:20 it is stressed even more.
“Justice, justice you MUST pursue, so that you may live and possess the land that Adonai your God is giving you.”
Whether it was the physical Promised Land or our heavenly inheritance, believers need to possess these two attributes because they are the foundation of His throne.
It affects every aspect of life and every nation.
In order to reflect who Adonai is to others we have to uphold a biblically based system of social order and have the knowledge that every individual is sacred and all are created in the image of Adonai and have God given rights.
But it takes more than just knowledge of that fact. It also needs to be put into action with everyone we meet.
We need to listen to the promptings of Adonai. Times when He may tell us to go to a stranger and pray with them or give them words of encouragement that the Ruach gives us.
Righteousness and justice are the bookends of how to live in right relationship with both God and people and treating others with God-given dignity.
When we see that justice is not carried out it is taking action to set the wrong right. It’s defending and upholding the weak whether in spiritual or physical terms.
We would do well to remember the harshness, the injustice and unrighteousness the Egyptians placed upon the Israelites. How they were looked upon as just worthless individuals.
We need to make sure we never place that same burden and captivity on anyone else.
We must never go back to our Egypt nor put others under that oppression.
There is only one thing that will make this very simple to do. When we love Him, we will keep His commandments.
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

07/22/2026

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Isaiah 40:1-26 Luke 3:2-15
Va’etchana – I pleaded
Shalom, 7/22/26
I think it’s safe to say that every believer on the face of the earth has family and loved ones that do not yet know the Lord.
People that we have been praying for for years and nothing seems to change in their lives.
They say they’re not ready to do so, are waiting for a sign, or feel they have done such terrible things that forgiveness from anyone is unattainable much less from God.
We may have even gotten to the point through the years that we have pleaded with them to accept Yeshua. Sometimes in desperation we are willing to go to any lengths to keep them from an eternity of separation from Adonai. This week’s Torah portion we see Moses doing the same thing.
He was the one Adonai choose to lead them out of bo***ge from Egypt. Walked with them through the wilderness for 40 years. And despite all their failures, loved them and were concerned about their spiritual wellbeing.
But now as they are about to enter the land, he is told that he will not cross the Jordan with them. So, he pleads with Adonai. And Adonai says, “Enough! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.” No more discussion. The situation is settled!
Adonai is not the only One Moses pleaded with. He also pleads with Bnei-Yisrael.
Moses wants them to do well in this new land they are about to enter. He implores them to keep the statutes and ordinances they have been given. He reminds them how Adonai dealt with the ones who followed Baal Peor and the consequences of disobedience. And he reminds them that the ones that held tight to Adonai are the ones that are about to cross over into the Promised Land.
Several times throughout this portion, we see words repeated such as be WATCHFUL, WATCH yourselves, and HEAR. Not to just hear the words themselves with our ears, but to hear and obey. To learn from the Words spoken. The Ten Words.
But the word that is repeated more often than WATCH and HEAR is the word FEAR.
We are told to FEAR Adonai over and over again. Is that the same fear as being afraid of spiders? {Which I am deeply afraid of!}
No. It is an immense reverence and respect for Adonai and living a life that reflects such. It is only through the Ruach that we have the ability to FEAR God for it is not of our human instinct to submit.
Adonai said to Moses, “Gather the people to Me and I will make them HEAR My words, so that they may learn to FEAR Me all the days that they live on the earth, and so that they teach their children.”
So, to learn to FEAR must be the first step to living a life pleasing to Adonai.
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

07/15/2026

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 Isaiah 1:1-27 Matthew 11:12-25
D’varim – words
Shalom, 7/15/26
The original name of the book of D’varim was Mishneh Torah or repetition of Torah.
If you are anything like me, you need things repeated to you. Often.
Why? Because I forget. It can happen at any age but the frequency of it seems to increase with age.
But it is something that young and old alike need to battle against and ask Adonai to hide His word in our hearts so that Satan or self doesn’t pluck it from us.
For a lot of times when Adonai has helped us through a seemingly impossible situation, and things are good again, we forget His provisions.
We need to remember especially in the good times all that He has done for us in the past.
That’s where repetition of His word comes in.
We need to allow Adonai to protect, provide and direct our every step and not go the way which seems right to us. Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way to death.”
We can’t believe what we see with our human eyes or how our minds perceive how things should be. We need to take Him at His word and trust. For it is Adonai your God who fights for you. {Deuteronomy 3:22}
The Israelites did not trust and they paid the price. Wandering in a desert for 40 years and a generation that did not cross over into the promised land.
Adonai is the perfect parent who disciplines righteously but never stops loving us for love is shown through discipline.
His love is unconditional even when we fail Him. In their wilderness and in ours, we can see how Adonai our God carries us as a man carries his son. {Deuteronomy 1:31}
There is no more time to try and figure things out for ourselves. We will fail every time.
There is no more time to play religion for God is not kidding anymore and He is a righteous, merciful and forgiving God who can not let the sins go unpunished with consequences that can sometimes reach into future generations.
“If you are willing and obey, you will eat the good of the Land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.” {Isaiah 1:19}
“O Lord, repeat to us over and over and over again least we fall into apostacy.”
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

07/08/2026

Numbers 30:2-36:13 Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4 Mark 11:12-25
Mattot-Massei – Tribes/Journeys
Shalom, 7/8/26
“When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out ALL the inhabitants of the land before you. You must destroy ALL their idols and cast images, and demolish their high places.” {Numbers 33:51-52}
Pretty straight forward and clear. ALL means ALL. No negotiating, no compromising, no peace talks.
When Adonai gives a direction, it is to be followed exactly as He has said or there are consequences. But when humans go in a certain direction, what is said is not always what is done.
As an example, President Trump has publicly asserted that a final peace and nuclear agreement with Iran was imminent at least 38 separate times throughout this conflict and even now further negations are under way.
I want to make it clear before I go any further that this is not meant to be political. Just factual. I think he has done a great job and we support him.
The point I will try to make is that we do the same thing when it comes to our own sins.
We try to negotiate and have peace talks with Adonai.
Wanting Him to allow us to compromise if even just a little.
The enemies of the land Bnei-Yisrael were ready to enter and the enemies of our soul are the same.
Both need to be purged and taken captive or they will overtake us.
The destruction in Numbers 33:51 was intended to protect Israel from spiritual corruption and preserve the land for the Israelites.
Just as the destruction and turning from our sins is to protect us from spiritual corruption so as to preserve our eternal inheritance.
Both must be evicted from their very source without compromise.
Also, the integrity of our words and name needs to be upheld because we are upholding also the good name of our earthly fathers, which is extremely important to me and should be to everyone.
We can make a promise to someone and not keep it, and the repercussions might be the loss of that friendship. Or so we think. The promise we have made is heard in His house, so He expects all promises to stand. When we make a vow or promise to Adonai if not kept there will have even more consequences.
We need to enforce the obligations of our mouths so that our word will forever be our bond.
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

07/01/2026

Numbers 25:10-30:1 Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 Luke 13:1-10
Pinchas – serpent’s mouth
Shalom, 7/1/26
This weekend America will be commemorating the birth of the United States as an independent nation. A new nation that would now be free from British rule.
A lot of battles were fought, and a lot of lives were lost in the pursuit of this freedom.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted. Not to be seen as a set of rules but as a document outlining fundamental principles upon which the new nation was built.
It established that everyone was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and government was to protect these rights.
Not a set of laws but to be the moral compass of the United States.
So, let’s pause a moment on Biblical freedom.
A lot of lives may have been lost for our nation to be free but only One life had to be given up for our spiritual freedom.
The Declaration of Independence established principles for our nation but only the Torah can give the freedom necessary to liberate us from the power of sin, guilt, and death so we can live according to God’s purpose.
And with that kind of freedom there is peace.
So, when we see the Torah not as law but as instructions on how to be truly free in Him, we will gain a whole new perspective.
The Government is supposed to protect our rights but only Adonai can protect our inheritance into His Kingdom.
Just like the heroes that fought for this nation, we also must fight the good fight and finish the race by dying to self and following Adonai whole heartly.
Exodus 34:7 states that He shows mercy to a thousand generations yet by no means leaves the guilty unpunished.
Spiritual passivity screams in our ears, “If it feels good do it!”
We become apathetic which distances us from God and is an enemy to the soul.
The choice is ours. We can either be free from sin or a slave to it. We can either live a life in bo***ge or a life of liberty in Yeshua, and a life filled with the kind of joy and freedom Only He can give.
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

06/24/2026

Numbers 19:1-23:9 Mic. 5:7-6:8 Matthew 21:1-11
Chukat-Balak – statute/destroyer
Shalom, 6/24/26
A red heifer and cleansing water to purify. Water from a rock through disobedience. Death. A snake on a pole. A talking donkey. Opened eyes. Seduction.
All in this week’s Torah portion.
Sounds like this could be a riveting series on Netflix!
We can see the link through these passages between water and sin.
It highlights the redeeming property of water and how very important it is to our spiritual lives.
The process of the red heifer was to cleanse when someone became impure.
And Yeshua who is the Living Water is the only One who can cleanse us from our sins.
Through the waters of immersion, which is mentioned throughout the Brit’ Hadashah, we make a public statement that symbolizes being buried and raised to new life in Yeshua.
The death of our old self and a beginning of a new spiritual life that needs to be obedient to Adonai.
So, this brings us to Moses at a rock. He is upset with the people’s constant grumbling. This time they want water. Adonai tells Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water but in his anger, Moses struck the rock. Notice in Numbers 20:10 it says, “Must WE bring you water from this rock?”
They did not esteem Adonai as Holy at this point thus diminishing God to Bnei-Yisrael. They thus in turn could not enter the Promised Land.
It’s not only important to do what Adonai is telling you to do. We must also do it how He tells us to do it.
As for Balaam, Adonia may allow us to do things our own way contrary to His design, but He may wall us in until we are still enough to hear His voice.
Whether we use a stick on a rock that cannot speak or hear or on a talking donkey, all the beatings and stalling we do will not thwart the plans of God.
In both Micah and Amos, it tells us that God does not need sacrifices and oil to please Him. In fact it says He is sick of them.
What He desires is obedience. What He seeks from us is justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. {Miach 6:8}
The moral maybe, listen to your donkey and leave the stick at home!
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

06/18/2026

Numbers 16:1-18:32 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22 Matthew 26:13-24
Korach – baldness
Shalom, 6/17/26
Anyone who has been the leader of a congregation for any length of time has seen their share of disgruntled congregants.
Someone who becomes unhappy or annoyed by the way things are going.
A lot of times they act as though it is what would be best for all, but it can be just a ruse.
According to the internet, while “dis” often functions as a negative prefix, in disgruntled it actually acts as an intensifier. It derives from the Middle English word gruntle meaning to grunt like a pig, so disgruntled essentially means grunting a lot or being deeply ill-tempered.
And just like today, there was a lot of that going on in this week’s Parasha.
Two groups were involved in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The one was Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben who were trying to dethrone Moses feeling that since they were from the tribe of the first born, the right to lead was theirs.
The other group was Korach. He felt that as a leader of the Levites, he had as much right as Aaron to be high priest. So, both groups rebelled.
In 1 Samuel the Israelites wanted a king to rule them as the other nations had.
This displeased Adonai since He was to be their direct ruler and protector. He allowed them to have a king but warned them of the consequences.
Their demand for a king was considered a grave evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Then in Matthew we saw the betrayal of Judas against Yeshua.
But before we judge Judas too harshly, let us consider the fact that there have been times that we have betrayed Yeshua for free!
All disgruntled people wanting their own agenda and not what is of God.
We can clearly see from these examples that Adonai will not allow the challenging of His authority to go unanswered.
Instead of opposing God’s appointed due to jealousy or self-gain, there must be an awareness of His sovereignty and have a unity of oneness in order to usher in His kingdom.
Ps. 105:15 – “Touch not My anointed ones and do My prophets no harm.”
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

06/10/2026

Numbers 13:1-15:41 Joshua 2:1-24 Matthew 10:1-14
Shlach – to send away
Shalom, 6/10/26
We excitedly tell our friends and family that Adonai has given you the perfect job you have been needing. You just know it’s from Him by a confirmation.
BUT… you feel the need to still go and check things out by investigating the company.
You start wondering, “What will my salary be? Will I get along with the other employees? Will I have to do overtime?
So, you go to spy out the company. Pay it a visit.
You find the employees are great and they are happy there. Good salary and no overtime.
BUT… you go home to your family and start thinking. “I’m sure the people were just putting up a good front. I know the pay won’t meet my needs and I’ll get caught in the cycle of overtime being the new person! I can’t take this job! It’s too much of a risk.”
At the very moment it was decided to investigate the company that’s when your trust in Adonai was broken. At that very moment Satan and self-doubt rushed into to a soul like a flood and thwart God’s plan and direction for your life.
Untrust is sin. We have decided to rely on our own feelings rather than on God’s provision and sovereignty.
So, the job is not taken, our bills pile up and we curse Adonai for the situation we are in. A time of wilderness we didn’t have to endure. This is just one example.
Exactly like the twelve scouts and the “bad” report.
It all boils down to are we going to trust Adonai whole heartly or not? Are we going to lay our lives in His hands or not?
Unlike Abraham who didn’t know where God was sending him, Moses knew Adonai was leading them to the land of milk and honey. The Promised land. There should have been no need for doubt.
But fear too easily replaces faith and doubt replaces trust in God’s word. It is a rebellion against God.
We all have many giants in our lives that try to take our eyes off Adonai’s plan for us. Situations that seem way too insurmountable.
But just as the spies needed to, we also need to keep our eyes on the gr**es and not the giants!
As a very old song said, “Trust and obey for there’s no other way.”
Blessings in Messiah,
Rabbi Bob

Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of St. Petersburg

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