More about Shavuot

Why do we read the book of Ruth on Shavuot? This inquiry into the origin of the custom takes us on an Indiana Jones style adventure to find the authentic tomb of King David.

Open the Gates

The first commandment at Mount Sinai was "I am the LORD your God who took you out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). Why did God introduce himself this way instead of as the God "who Created of the Universe"? In this lecture we will explore the meaning of implications of faith (emunah) as the foundation of our life's journey to the Kingdom.

Entrance to the Eternal Kingdom: 2 Peter 1:5-7 in its Jewish Context

Explore the process of spiritual self-improvement as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-7, in light of Jewish thought. Learn how Jewish sources provide step-by-step outlines for personal growth, and delve into the importance of the pursuit of holiness and entrance to what Peter calls "the Eternal Kingdom."

Books mentioned:

Am Yisrael Podcast: No Place Like Home

The pilot episode of Am Yisrael, the new Beth Immanuel podcast, features a conversation between Yisroel Nachum Amic, Shalom Wilson, and Ami Buckles discussing the recent Beth Immanuel Shavuot conference and reflecting on their own personal experiences in synagogues and churches before finding their way to Beth Immanuel.

Upon Three Pillars

Why does Yeshua identify faithfulness as one of the weighty matters of the Torah, and what does that really mean? Aaron Eby takes a look at the meaning of justice, mercy, and faithfulness by comparing a similar discussion in the Talmud where the sages boil the 613 commandments down to the principle of living by faith. This teaching from the 2022 Shavuot conference takes you through an easy-to-understand path toward understanding what it means to live by faith.

The Weighty Matters

Yeshua says that the weighty matters of the Torah are "justice, mercy, and faithfulness." Does this mean that the details of Jewish law are irrelevant? This teaching, the first of a series of teachings for the Shavuot 2022 at Beth Immanuel, opens the discussion on the "weightier provisins of the Law."

The Fivefold Gift

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers," It's commonly taught that Ephesians 4:11 presents fivefold gifts of ministry for leadership and service in a congregation. But is that really what it means? A post-supersessionist perspective on the passage comes to a completely different conclusion.

The Holy Day of Shavuot

Why do we eat dairy on Shavuot and stay up all night studying Torah? What's the connection between Pentecost and Shavuot? Here's a quick overview of the festival in the form of excerpts from an unpublished manuscript of the forthcoming First Fruits of Zion book The Holy Days.

Putting Shavuot on the Map

Coronavirus changes the way we celebrate Shavuot this year. Here's a teaching about the significance of Shavuot in Messianci Judaism and the importance of keeing it on the map.

Eight Days and Eight Years

Psalm 30 is called a "Song for the Chanukah of the House." This teaching connects the Festival of Chanukah with the Festival of Shavuot and the pouring out of the Spirit in Solomon's Colonade. An inspiring Chanukah teaching about the meaning of the festival for Messianic Judaism. This teaching was presented on December 4, 2010 for the eighth anniversary of congregation Beth Immanuel.