Moses’ Record Release Party

0:00 I'd like to invite Rabbi Sean to come this morning. to share the message just in case you you hadn't realized there's no Junior Shabbat this morning. There's no Junior Shabbat this morning. So your children will be in here with us. For for the duration of service? Avinasha, Mayim Our Father in heaven where I thank you for Rabbi Sean and his diligence to prepare for today Lord. I pray that you would Minister to us today that you would speak to our hearts Laura ask that you would open up our ears.

0:46 That we can hear from you today. That we can draw closer to you during this season O Lord, we bless you and we praise you and yeshua's name. amen Amen. Thank you, Rabbi re Today is Shabbat Shiva, of course. it's a special Shabbat where we are encouraged to turn from our own ways. and return to the Lord So it's a great honor to be able to speak to you today. to go It was becoming clear that my grandmother's time was coming to an end.

1:33 My grandmother was a warm and caring person. She could sit and talk to you for hours. Yet she wasn't big on phone conversations. It was typically a very brief Exchange. Usually she would ask how I was doing and when she could see me again in person. However towards the end of her life this changed. She lived way up in the mountains of Upstate New York, and although we visited when we were able it wasn't always easy. So during that final season she made phone calls. It was surprising. She wanted to spend time talking on the phone. This happened once or twice with me

2:20 during that final season. There was urgency in her voice. She spoke to me plainly and directly she told me about episodes from her life. That I never knew about. She told me stories that applied directly to me. She wasn't just doing this for me. However, she was calling all of her children and grandchildren and sharing with them in unique ways. I could tell that she put a lot of thought and reflection into what she would tell me before she called. In fact, she said things over a decade ago that are still unfolding even in the coming months. She did not consider herself a prophet, but she

3:07 spoke to me with the weight of a prophet during that season. Those were meaningful exchanges yet. They were personal. Well, I can tell my children about their great grandmother. I understand that they cannot experience her presence in the same way that I have. Through the writing of music and literature as well as artwork and created media. Our influence can be expanded beyond our lifetimes upon the Earth. We live in a time where video recording is prevalent. Unfortunately, my grandparents weren't necessarily documenting their lives in such a way.

3:53 There may be a few odd recordings here and there. But most of the memories exist within the minds of those who were present. And will be difficult to pass to coming Generations. My grandfather was a rabbi for over 50 years. I remember him well. However, if I want to hear his voice or experience his teaching I have to search the banks of memory. He mostly served in small congregations. He did not have the benefit that we have of recorded Services. We're a live stream. I must say at this point. That we have had the rare privilege to be served in this way at Baruch Hashem.

4:41 I want to point out an individual in particular. That you may not see even in the booth. TR Porterfield has been serving as an archivist over our duplication Ministry for decades. In this way. He has helped to create a living history. I asked Rabbi Ari how long TR has been serving our community in this way? His response as long as I can remember. He continued I just asked my mom and she reminded me that TR retired from his prior work and took over the duplication from my grandma. This is rabbiore speaking. Can we take the opportunity to honor TR Amanda has served this community Faithfully over

5:27 many decades. Tru model the kindness of Yeshua in your service you have given us an enduring gift and have enabled us to be reminded of God's faithfulness to us throughout every generation. Thank you for your diligence and your steadfast Spirit to serve others with excellence.

6:12 I wish that I had an archive of my grandfather's messages for the 50-plus years that he served in congregational Ministry. I wish there was another TR to create that possibility. We have very little access to my grandfather's teachings today. The only video footage I have that is not someone singing Happy Birthday. Is a video created by the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania? My grandfather served to renovate and rejuvenate a disheveled synagogue within the Eastern State Penitentiary. I found the following information on their website. Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands

6:58 today in ruin a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers. Known for its Grand architecture and strict discipline. This was the world's first true Penitentiary a prison designed to inspire penitence or true regret in the hearts of prisoners. It's vaulted skylit cells once Hill held many of America's most notorious lawbreakers including bank robber slick Willie Sutton. and Scarface Al Capone As an aside. I also watched a video about the 97 foot tunnel dug by Willie Sutton and other prisoners that was used to escape the penitentiary

7:45 at one point. Of the approximately 100 inmates to escape throughout their history Leo Callahan was the only one who got away. He is still at large though. He would be over 110 years old. If you find him. Call it in. The following video is my grandfather describing what it was like to be present during a lockdown in the penitentiary. In this 2007 interview much of which is used in the video played in the memorial exhibit on Jewish life at Eastern State. Rabbi Martin Rubinstein discussed the camaraderie and Trust among the Jewish inmates and the staff. He noted with pride that there was never a

8:33 guard present in the synagogue during services and that the inmates enjoyed special privileges because of their good behavior. Here is the video about the lockdown. yes, it was the 1960s and I had a puppet in South Jersey. And the Jewish chaplaincy service. Of the board at that time in Philadelphia. They were the ones responsible for placing people in different institutions for the penal institutions. Whatever the hospitals Etc nursing homes, and they said it was an opening. Prison what I feel

9:19 comfortable in handling that. And I said look. I'll try and see how it works out. So I sent in my name and then I received some forms to fill out and I had to be fingerprinted first and photos taken and sent to the FBI. To make sure that I had no previous record and no ulterior motives. I'm getting in and then they approved my application and at that point I became the Chaplin in Eastern State Penitentiary. I was able to help in that in that sense. Okay, so it is, you know, sometimes you can help people.

10:05 And I'm glad that there were two incidents where I was to be helpful. To help people return to normal living one day when we were conducting the services. suddenly one of the tenants came into this into the chapel. And this was unusual and he said Rabbi the men have to return to their cells immediately. And you're then ask questions when I said fellas are Services now over you have to go back to your sales immediately and Lieutenant said wait with me. You'll come back from me into the center. I said fine. Well, what happened?

10:51 They said that God tells me Rabbi. There's a lockdown. There's a lockdown. What happened? He says. Apparently some prisoners Escape. and until they have account. Of who is there and who is not? It's closed. No one goes in or out. and here I am I know my family is waiting me out there wondering where where's that you know what happened, you know and And my wife said he's older. He's in prison. You could go out on that and So until they were satisfied that they had accounted for

11:39 everyone else and the strange strangely enough. I think it's all made until the story. They escaped, you know, they had the meat packet his truck came in and where they put the scraps they had barrels and these two inmates went into the barrel. And then somehow when they got out without realizing it they somehow got out and they exposed themselves soon as they thought and some police officers picked them up and and the prison had no idea that escapes until they got this call. Hey, I think we have two of your men here. No that is when they got it. I said, hey we have to lock down and check that out. And that's what they did. But when they

12:24 accounted for everyone else it says Rabbi, okay. It's not clear to go. In the process of preparing for this message. I learned that there are more videos about his interaction with the inmates at the Jewish like life exhibit at the Eastern State Penitentiary. So next time I go to Pennsylvania, I'd like to visit the world's first penitentiary and be inspired to consider my ways and repent. The title of my message today is Moses record release party. I will be speaking from Deuteronomy chapter 31 verses 19

13:10 through 30. My outline can be found on the YouVersion app. From this text it is clear that God wants you to turn from your sin and return to him. I would like to break this down into three sections first. I will invite you to consider the ways in which you have turned aside from the Lord. Next I want to assure you that God is concerned about your future. Lastly I want to encourage you to turn away from your sin and turn towards the Lord. This is Deuteronomy 31. verses 19 through 22 I'm reading from the Tree of Life version.

13:58 Now write this song for yourselves and teach it to benais Royal. Put it in their mouths so that this song may be a witness for me against beneus trial. For when I bring them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I swore to their fathers. And they eat and are satisfied and grow fat. Then they will turn to other gods and serve them and they will spurn me and break my Covenant. Now when many evils and troubles have come on them. This song will confront them as a witness. For it will not be forgotten from the mouth of their descendants. For I know the intention they are devising this day even before I bring them into the land that I swore. That day Moses wrote this song.

14:44 and taught it to Bene Israel in what ways have you turned aside from the Lord? As I mentioned, this is Moses record release party. He has written a song. He is teaching it to the people of Israel. Moses is nearing the end of his life. And he has an Urgent Message for the people. Later on in the passage. We will see that Moses speaks the words. rather than singing the words This leads some interpreters to call it a poem. The Hebrew word Shira can be used for a song or a poem.

15:31 This week. I was considering some of my favorite hip-hop tracks. I counted seven verses and one that I really love just like the song of Moses. Is it possible that before Drake before Action Bronson remedy Mac Miller Mattis Yahoo! And the Beastie Boys? Before inspect the deck said I bomb atomically Socrates philosophies and hypotheses. Can't Define how I be dropping these mockeries. Lyrically performed armed robbery flee with the lottery possibly they spotted me. Is it possible? Is it possible that before all that? Moses was the original Jewish, MC.

16:21 Hold on. Track with me for a second. consider the opening line of Moses track I'm going to read it first in English. Give ear o heavens and I will speak. Let the Earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching trickle like rain. my speech distill like do that's pretty right. Now I will read those same words in Hebrew. Asinu Hashem Mayim the other Berra but tishma haritz imracey. Yeah our rothkamatarly. He tizal qatal. Imrati Moses was the first rap, MC.

17:06 Yeah. That's just the Hebrew just the plain Hebrew. Moses utilizes end rhyme as well as internal rhyme. I spent some time this week trying to decipher his flow. It's intricate. Most you're abenu. Not only does Moses engage lyrical Sword Play, but his verses are hard-hitting. His words are a warning to the people of Israel. His song is confrontational and challenging. on one hand Moses knew that the people were about to receive something good the land of Israel. on the other hand

17:52 Moses knew the people well He already knew that they would not be able to walk in the fullness of their calling. He put it in the form of a song so that they could remember his words long after he was gone. Can you think of a time when the lord gave you something good, but you failed to walk in his instruction. Have you caused a good thing to go bad? What covenants have you made with the Lord? What covenants have you made with others? Have you been faithful in those commitments? There are sins of commission and sins of omission.

18:38 Sometimes we can become so focused on what we've done. That we fail to see what we haven't done. Maybe God called us to something but we decided to walk a different way. Perhaps we have been slack toward a responsibility that we have been given. Have you pretended to be ignorant about something that you know is wrong? In what ways have you turned aside from the Lord? notice that I am not asking if you have turned aside. But rather how have you turned aside from the Lord? Perhaps you're saying to yourself. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm glad that I followed the Lord

19:24 perfectly and always treat everyone, right? Congratulations. You have managed to do what no other human has done since Yeshua walked the Earth 2,000 years ago mazel tov. Pride is particularly destructive. The problem with pride is that in addition to leading you to violate God and hurt others. It will also cause you to believe that you have done nothing wrong. In order to be freed from a particular attitude or behavior one needs to First acknowledge that something is wrong. Pride can make us acutely aware of things that other people are doing wrong. Pride can also blind us.

20:11 To the ways that we violate God and hurt others. So what's the point of all this introspection and repentance stuff anyway? What a downer. Here's why introspection and repentance is important. It impacts our future. God cares about our future God cares about your future Moses wasn't a cruel person. He spoke the truth because he cared about the people. Now there are ways to be sensitive when speaking the truth to others. Moses had some great moments and also some horrible errors of judgment and behavior.

20:57 In fact Moses was unable to enter the land as a consequence of his personal sin. If Moses transgressed the Lord. How much more do we need to realize that we have fallen short? verse 23 reads then he commissioned Joshua. son of noon and said hazak be courageous. For you will bring benaisrael into the land. I swore to them. And I will be with you. God is concerned about your future.

21:45 strange place to position this verse it is preceded by some difficult verses and Then followed by some even more difficult verses. This is like the sandwich method in reverse. The sandwich method, of course is where you say something good first, then the hard news and then something good again. Here Moses hits us with some hard truth. Says something encouraging for like two seconds and then proceeds to annihilate us some more. The sandwich method is supposed to make it easier for the hearer to receive the difficult thing by surrounding it with goodness. Moses actually has good news for the people of Israel. However, he is obligated to tell them

22:33 the truth. God spoke to Moses about what he had to do and Moses didn't have time to waste. I'm sure this wasn't an easy message for Moses to deliver especially as his death was approaching. We lost another famous rapper this week. oftentimes an influential person becomes obscure with the passage of time this particular artist was popular when I was a kid. However, no one has made a big deal about him for the past 20 years. Now that he has died. However, he will get more attention than he received when he was alive. People are funny like that, aren't we? Sometimes I wonder why we have more respect for those who have

23:20 passed then we do for the living. Maybe it's because we no longer see them as a threat. I'm not sure. In any case death has a certain weight. That makes people listen up. It reminds us of our own mortality. sobering Here God has a sobering message and he delivers it through a dying man. God cares immensely for the people of Israel and so did Moses so in the middle of this challenging message I want to encourage you. God gives us guidance and even rebukes us because he cares about us. This is why parenting is so difficult.

24:08 We must confront the ones that we love the most. It is not comfortable. But it serves a purpose which we might not understand for many years if ever. Even with the difficulty of Moses life. I believe he is telling us that it was worth it. In the face of all this difficulty. He commissions Joshua before the people and tells him Kazakh be strong and courageous. If I was in that position, I might have had a hard time buying into Moses encouragement. I think I would be crushed already and Moses is only halfway through the introduction to his song. It's about to get even heavier.

24:53 in spite of this Joshua was about to Embark upon the adventure of his life. the good news Is that we have everything we need to walk in the fullness of our calling? the good news is that God is with great inheritance for the peace rail Of God throughout the Nations. Amen. Moses was a great example to us because he was flawed like us. Yet he was faithful in his calling. I am stealing a bit of Thunder from next week's portion. But moses' life is coming to an end and he has Faithfully installed his successor Joshua or

25:39 yahushua in Hebrew. Jehoshua is also a great man of God. It's in fact difficult to say anything bad about yahshua. He had nowhere near the controversy that surrounded Moses or King David. Yet. Even in yehoshua's faithfulness and his exemplary life of obedience. At the end of the Torah we learned that yehoshua was not the prophet greater than Moses. Yet he would also help to point the way. Yeshua has come to us as the embodiment of the Torah. He was greater than Moses. And yahshua because he showed us a life without sin.

26:24 He gave us a taste of the world to come. He is preparing us to enter into our destiny. Though Moses was not able to enter. the Promised Land Yeshua is already present at the right hand of the father. Though yah. ushua short of God's glory Yeshua lives there and he has shown us the path forward. We too have the choice before us to follow the path of death or the path of life. I think Moses would encourage us to to make things right with God and with one another as we prepare for the road ahead.

27:10 Deuteronomy 31 verses 24 through 30 Read as follows. Now when Moses had finished writing the words of this Torah on a scroll right to the end. Moses commanded the Levites carriers of the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai saying Take this Scroll of the Torah and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of Auto now your God. It will remain there as a witness against you. For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck indeed while I am still alive with you today. You have been rebellious against Adonai. How much more than after my death? Gather to me all the Elders of your tribes and

27:56 your officials so that I may speak these words in their ears and call Heaven and Earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will certainly act corruptly and turn aside from the way I have commanded you. So evil will fall upon you in the latter days because you will do what is evil in the sight of Adonai provoking him to anger by the work of your hands. Moses spoke in the hearing of the whole community of Israel the words of this song right to the end. Acknowledge your sin and turn to the Lord. When Moses finished writing his song he sent it to the copyright office. He handed it off to the Levites who cared for

28:43 the elements of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. This song was to remain before the people as a reminder of his words. Moses knew that after his death the people would sin even more Moses helped to keep the people accountable to God. He had great Authority and trust and was not afraid to speak out. We need systems of accountability or we fall farther from the presence of God. What systems of accountability do you have in your life? What people do you have that you can confess your sins to and be healed? Does anyone want to be delivered from their sin anyone? I

29:29 want to be delivered from the sin? Have you confessed it before God? Have you confessed it before others? God has laid a path for us to find healing and away for us to overcome the sins which so easily and snare us. so at this point I would like to pull out one of Moses old records. one of the classics it is known as the decalogue and it has been a top 10 hit ever since it's release. We even have it written here upon the doors of the Ark. I'd like to invite you to stand at this time.

30:14 Remember it is not a question of whether you have sinned. Rather the question is how have I sent? I invite the elders and the prayer team to come forward. And invite the worship team to come and accompany the words of the prophet. Today is Shabbat Shiva. It is the only Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom, Kippur. We are now in what are known as the days of awe. This is a 10-day period leading up to the day of atonement. It is a time when it is customary to examine ourselves in light of the

31:02 Holiness of the Lord. It is a time when we are to acknowledge our sin to the Lord and acknowledge our sin to one another. Shiva means turning aside from our own ways and returning to the Lord. As I begin to lead us through the decalogue. I encourage you to be brutally honest with yourself about the ways that you have failed to live up to the Lord's guidance. In what ways are you deceiving yourself? Please know that you cannot fool the Lord your thoughts and deeds are an open book before him. What are you hiding? Do you wish to be released?

31:48 Take this time to be honest with yourself. Take this time. To be honest with the Lord. When I am finished. I encourage you to go to your neighbor where members of the community that you may have sinned against intentionally or unintentionally. Take this time to receive prayer or confess to the elders or close friends the prayer team. Feel free to move to someone that you need to see yield to the Lord allow him to direct your steps during this time. Yeshua tells us that we should first be reconciled to one another before bringing our offering to the Lord. I will be reflecting upon Exodus 20 verses

32:35 1 through 17. Then God spoke all these words saying. I am out of now your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage. God delivered his people from Egypt because it was not their Destiny to be enslaved. However, we can cast aside our freedom in the Lord through habitual sin and the stubbornness of our own hearts. Have you acknowledged the Lord as your God and the one who delivers you from bondage today? You shall have no other gods before me. What Idols have you allowed to get in the way of worshiping the Lord? Where do you spend your time? Where does your

33:21 energy go? What are the desires of your heart? Where are you willing to give your best and where do you give the scraps? Do not make for yourself a Graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the water under the Earth. What preconceived notions of God do you carry that need to be disposed of? Do you have an accurate view of the Lord? Are you following some kind of distortion? What things have you added to or taken away from your view of God that are not consistent with the word? Do not bow down to them. Do not let anyone make you serve them for I don't know your God. I'm a jealous God bringing the

34:08 inequity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me but showing loving kindness to the thousands of generations of those who love me and keep my mitzvotes. What kind of transgressions have you inherited from your parents or grandparents? What are you doing to break these patterns so that you can begin a cycle of blessing that will last from generation to generation? You must not take the name of Adonai your God in vain for Adonai will not hold him Guiltless the takes his name in vain. In what ways have you failed to represent the characteristics of God to those around you? In what ways have you given God the honor he deserves?

34:57 Remember Yom. Shabbat to keep it. Holy. You are to work six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to I don't know your God. In it, you shall not do any work, not you nor your son your daughter your male servant your female servant your cattle nor The Outsider that is within your Gates. For in six days Adonai made Heaven and Earth the sea and all that is in them and rested on the seventh day. Thus Adonai blessed Yom Shabbat and made it. Holy. Have you been faithful to honor the Shabbat? Have you been faithful to work for six days? Are you earning a living in an honest way? Have you separated Shabbat as a time to commune with God? Have

35:43 you helped others to enter into rest on Shabbat? Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be long upon the land which I don't know your God is giving you. How do you feel about your parents this thinking about them evoke feelings of Honor or feelings of bitterness? Where do you take that? and what ways have you made life difficult for your mother and father in what ways did you fail to follow good instruction that they have given you what experiences did your parents go through that might help you to understand the way that they are. Do not murder. Yeshua tells us that anyone who Harbors bitterness will be subject to judgment.

36:28 Who have you been vengeful towards? Have you been violent towards others? Do you wish to see the downfall of someone else? Do not commit adultery. If you are married, have you honored the Covenant of your marriage? In what ways have you violated that Covenant? Have you treated your spouse with love and kindness? If you are single have you walked Faithfully to the Lord in regard to sexual integrity? Do not steal. What have you thought that does not belong to you? Did you take advantage of an opportunity knowing that you would not be caught? Have you benefited from some kind of loophole or trickery? Even though you know, it's not right?

37:13 Have you held on to something that belongs to someone else? Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. In what ways have you sought to damage the reputation of others? Have you lied about someone else in order to bolster your own reputation? Have you exaggerated stories about yourself or others? Have you used Words As Weapons to bring others down? Do not covet your neighbor's house. Your neighbors wife has manservant has made servant his Ox his donkey or anything. That is your neighbors. How do you feel about seeing others succeed? Are you content with what the Lord has given you or are you angry at your portion? Are you jealous at others that have a better house or

38:01 a nicer car? Do you desire someone else's spouse? Are you jealous? Because someone has a nicer donkey than you do. in conclusion God wants you to turn from your sin and return to him. This is the whole purpose of moses' record release party. And this occasion of Shabbat Shiva and these days of awe leading to Yom Kippur. Consider the ways in which he turned aside from the Lord put your trust in the Lord and know that he is concerned about your future. Acknowledge your sin and return to the Lord. The worship team will continue to play I encourage you to utilize this time to seek the Lord. Seek reconciliation with those you have wronged and

38:49 confess your sins to one another. Let's take this opportunity to get right with one another and get right with the Lord. shabbat shalom

39:42 you it

40:47 it I don't know we come before you on this Shabbat grateful for the works that you do in our lives. Lord I Thank you for this time that we've had together Lord I ask that you would continue to draw us to you.

41:35 Lord and I lift up those who have come to you today. and sought to repair relationships and draw near to you. Lord I ask that you would create a new work. in each of us or don't allow today to be the end. But just the beginning. Lord that we might Draw near to you for the rest of the days of our lives.

42:23 Lord we bless your name. In yeshua's name. I mean I would like to invite the Via family to come up to the front. So I can pronounce the ironic benediction over you and we can send you out. to build up the kingdom of God in Australia and you know, maybe even a little along the way to may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

43:10 May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you. And give you peace. Give a recognize. my red if you hear he sat on night panavalaka. They are some left on.

44:00 mission in the name of our Messiah Yeshua I mean should watch shalom.