Beth El of Manhattan, Two-Testament Synagogue
Religion & Spirituality
About
Rabbi Bruce L. Cohen’s sermons at Congregation Beth El of Manhattan – an unaffiliated Conservative Synagogue of "Two-Testament" Judaism in the Upper East Side of New York City – where Jewish people and “People of Calling” (not born Jewish), and Interfaith couples come together in Manhattan since 1993 to observe, connect, and celebrate. For more information, please visit us online at www.bethelnyc.org or an Facebook.
Episodes
- HaBayitah (Home) Part 2
In the Parasha "Lech Lecha" we have what is considered by many Scripture scholars "the" core text on God-following in the entire Bible. The Hebrew is an idiom for "get going" - but it literally means "go to yourself." Your true self. The r…
- Do-Be-Do-Be-Do 🎶
In our era, it is tempting to retreat from the storm-tossed world into a faith-life that is meditative, contemplative, and sealed off. Is this essentially monastic life God's goal for us in regard to "holiness?" Or – is the goal of contemp…
- Theology Affects Translations
An examination of specific examples of denominational theologies having produced inaccurate translations: and a recounting of my lunch with the late Dr, Alan F. Segal, PhD, professor of religion at Columbia University in New York City, in…
- God *Does* In The Real World
This episode examines the biblical commandments of Shmittah and Jubilee years, including God's promise of provision for these rest periods. It connects these concepts to the teachings of Messiah Yeshua, particularly 'the lesson of the loav…
- Not For Nothing (Schrödinger's Futility) :-)
This episode discusses the apparent futility woven into existence according to Romans 8:20-21, framing it as a spiritually "quantum" state. It references figures like King Solomon and The Messiah, and scriptures like Psalms 56:8 and Mark 9…
- Not My Toy Or Trophy
This sermon examines the spiritual journey of Aaron, Israel's first High Priest, who served for 40 years after the direct loss of his two sons by God. It explores how he navigated this personal tragedy and served as a mediator, referencing…
- Beyond The Emoji Exodus
This episode discusses the complex, multi-stage origin story of Israel and the Exodus, drawing parallels to other group origin narratives like God creating a "camp" and providing a cause. It also touches on the concept of becoming "a new c…
- The Flying "Nuun"
This episode of Beth El of Manhattan discusses the enlarged Hebrew letter 'Nun' in Exodus 34:7, which signifies the number 50. The discussion delves into the rabbinical interpretation that this enlarged letter draws attention to the limita…
- Change Is Coming
A double holiday with great meaning for Two Testament synagogues all over the world. God has declared certain things will happen. Not might happen - WILL happen. Declarations of such certainty are certainly worth exploring! Enjoy & Shalom!
- Commanded To Command
"And you shall command ..." the week's Torah portion starts. Commands, vows, and promises powerfully elevate ideas by eliminating alternative options. A thing is the only thing we may do, or must not do. Beyond his - as God did with Moses…
- The Power Of Two ... Or More
"And Moses congregated the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and said to them, 'These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do.'" (Exodus 35:1) God gathered a group that had been created by a shared experiences (Exodus…
- According To The Pattern ...
With the intricate descriptions of exactly how God wants the implements of the Temple Service to be made, we are given an summary commandment: "See to it that you make everything in accord with their patterns shown to you (by God) on the m…
- Love & Love ... And Love
This week's Torah portion "Mishpatim" contains an exquisite rhapsody on resisting the very human urge to attack and exploit weakness. It takes us to sublime understanding of Love Of and For God, and Love Of and For Humankind. We dive in wi…
- God Ideas vs. Good Ideas
Revelation from God interferes with things coming naturally to humans: hurtful or wrongful deeds we often reflexively do. The 10 Commandments go to the heart of how God "sent His Word and healed" us. Our Parent in Heaven teaches us how to…
- Saved To The Uttermost (on "Shabbat Shirah")
In this parasha Beshalach on "Shabbat Shirah" – "The (Red Sea rescue) Song-Shabbat" – we hear sung, "And you have become my salvation." This salvation/rescue is not some meager, just-barely-effective deflection of the sabotages of God's Ad…
- Becoming A Marvel
In this week's Torah portion we see the Exodus from Egypt being accomplished with miracles involved in the process. The words used for what God did were "Otot" (signs) and "Mof'téem" (marvels). In Psalm 71, the writer says, "I have become…
- The Name Above Every Name
What does it mean that we have been given awareness of, access to, use of, and right to "stand within" The Name Above Every Name? The name of Yeshua The Messiah. We steep ourselves in His Name in this message. Enjoy!
- And They All Lived Happily Ever After
The Haftarah with this week's Torah portion "VaYechi," closing out the book of Genesis, shows King David at the end of his life cleaning up loose ends and passing the baton to his son, Solomon. It is not a one-dimensional story of "happily…
- Mercy Is The Air We Breathe
God's very Name in which we are told to trust (Isaiah 50:10) is "Rakhum V'Chanun" – Compassionate & Merciful. We see the traits in this Name surface especially clearly in moments of high chaos like this week's Parasha in which Jacob return…
- Dysfunction Junction
How do we go about rightly being fallible Human Mortals following and effectively accessing the Perfect God among Imperfect Humans in A Stormy and Unsafe Universe? This sermon "gropes for truth" as to these questions through the powerfully…
- Going On While Bereaved
This week's Torah and Haftarah are both about the endgame of human existence. Everyone ages and passes away - and for the aging and the bereaved, the rest of life does not necessarily go kind and gentle before, during, or afterwards. This…
- The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
Choice-making narrows our world. Choosing to be a long-distance runner has inherent in it the choice to be often alone. The story of Noah gives us a sobering portrait of how some choices in God-following and truth-living can lead to season…
- HaBai'yitah (Home)
The Hebrew word "HaBai'yitah" (Home) has been rich in the news as the remaining living Israeli Hostages in Gaza were returned home to Israel. "Home" is a sentiment deep in the heart of the People Israel in the Jewish homeland - and scatter…
- The Honey AND (Not OR) The Stinger
We are commanded to rejoice exclusively for seven days, and yet we are conscious of the Hostages still in Gaza as we rejoice, like background radiation in everything we do. As Believers who seek to do God's will as revealed through His Wor…
- We Can't Deliver Perfection To God Or Each Other
Since we cannot deliver perfection to God or humankind in our actions or ideas ... how can we live with reasonable "shalom" in a world filled with error/sin-committing-and-repeating creatures ... like ourselves?
- The Mercy Of Return (with Special Musical Treat At End)
Fresh from "Tashlikh," we are full of consciousness of God's mercy that leads to relationship with Him in this world (Olam Ha'zeh), and eternity with Him in the next (Olam Ha-Ba). We take a deep dive into God's mercy toward us - and right…
- Newness From Here And Now
How do we get to "new" from where we are now? With all swirling about us in the news and our own human life-journeys, how do we genuinely walk in the spirit of the greeting "Shanah Tovah L'cha" - "A Good Year For You!" beyond merely practi…
- Rise And Shine. Or ...
The Haftarah for the Torah parasha Ki Tavo this week exhorts, "Rise, and shine!" This means someone is needed to arise, and some darkness needs light to shine into it." Judges 5 tells us, "Village life in Israel ceased until I arose ..." A…
- Othering: Am I My Brother's Keeper? - Part 2
[FYI - Sermon is only 11 minutes in length.] Continuation of the theme of "Ahavat Adam" ("love of all humankind) from recent sermons, "do not look out for your own interests, but for those of others also," (Philippians 2:4) ... an attitude…
- The Sure Mercies Of David
In this week's Haftarah, God promises those who come to Him for guidance the same mercies given to King David, himself. What hope do we have of meriting such things as "the man after God's own heart" received from On High? Well ... given K…
- Haftarat "Nachamu" Reading
On the 2nd Saturday of every month, we have an abbreviated Shabbat morning service with no Torah Service or Sermon, so after services the synagogue's members and attendees can do "Nosh n Drash" – a communal discussion of the weekly Torah p…
- Right For Me, Right For Us - Part 2
We continue this Shabbat with the theme of interwovenness: how our decision-making is guided by balancing what Scripture calls "our own interests" with "the interests of others" - and God's right as rightful Sovereign to "cast the tie brea…
- Boundary-Making (with "Messiah Morsel" After Sermon)
We learn this week how "me" is balanced by "we." This week's parasha "Matot/Maasei" continues our learning from the situation of the daughters of Tzelof'had. Last week, his orphaned daughters asserted their rights, and God backed them up.…
- God Remembers Devotion
God, Himself, declares, "I remember your devotion in your youth, the way you followed Me into a wasteland with no life in it." What grace! God remembers YOUR every choice following Him, even when it took you into lack or danger. We meditat…
- Daily Bread
Everything is not relative. That perspective can affect accuracy of understanding is genuinely an important consideration; but still, there are still some things and some stories that are true - and some that are not. This week's Haftarah…
- The Song of "It Can't Be Done."
In the parasha, "Shelakh" we see what became our synagogue's logo: the Two Spies carrying the "Eshkol" (cluster of fruit). They saw the "land flowing with milk and honey, and full of enemies. God stated several times in "giving" us "our ow…
- The Shining (God's Name Placed Upon Us)
The "Aaronic Benediction" is described by God in the verse following it as "how you (the Aaronic Priesthood) shall put My Name on the children of Israel." It invokes God's very presence, His "face" to shine on us. When His presence shined…
- A Promise, Not A Command
The statement in the opening of this week's parasha is in the Hebrew future tense, which can read as either a statement of a future event, or a command. Most read it as a command: but it takes on a very different flavor when it is read as…
- A Place For Us
Rabbi Bruce's first sermon back from his six-month sabbatical. [NOTE: Please forgive the sound quality: the air conditioner above the podium was mistakenly set on "high fan" and loud fan noise had to be filtered out of the mix, affecting t…
- Obedience
"These are the things the Lord has *commanded* (not suggested for) you to do."
- The Fleas Come With The Dog
In this sermon for the weekly Torah portion "Terumah" (Voluntary Offering), Rabbi Bruce explores in deep detail and with personal examples how to replace unhelpful complaining with constructive realism.
- Heartbreak
Starting from the Haftarah for this week in Isaiah chapter 6, our own heartbreak and that of others is pondered for wisdom and appropriate engagement/action.
- "Hard Hearts, Soft Hearts"
During last Shabbat (8 Feb 2025), the service leader made reference to Rabbi Bruce's sermon "Hard Hearts, Soft Hearts" given on 18 January 2006. Since that sermon was the driver for the leader's comments, and no sermon was given last weeke…
- Hineini Again
We present ourselves to God ... what happens then? How does it unfold? What results?
- The Interrupted Conversation - Pilot: "I was there when it happened."
During the rabbi's sabbatical, every 2nd Shabbat of the month is not recorded so the congregation can have after services an on-site "Nosh & Drash" in which the week's Torah section ("Parashat Ha-Shavu'a") is discussed while we eat togethe…
- Relationship Rupture and Repair
A mental health-care professional gives us a very insightful glimpse into the relational dynamics presented by the Biblical scenario of our patriarch, Joseph - a victim of terrible harms - reacting to seeing genuine repentance and change i…
- Hanukkah - Messiah As The Ultimate Shamash
Hanukkah is Hebrew for "dedication" – and dedication as service to God and to Humankind is role-modeled for us by Messiah Yeshua, who was "The Light of The World" – and urged us as His followers to live as "lights to the world" and to "shi…
- "Hated"
Joseph was an ethically better and exponentially more capable man than his eleven half-brothers; and they hated him so much for it, they conspired to murder him. Yeshua of Nazareth told us, "Blessed are you when people hate and revile you…
- Overflowing
A very personal sermon built around an actual recent experience of a long-prayed prayer suddenly being answered.
- God Invites - Will We Accept?
Sermon from streamed service on 7 December, not In-Person Service. That sermon will be podcast next week. Enjoy, and may it all be for shalom!