The Shofar Newsletter
THE SHOFAR Newsletter of Bet Yeshurun Messianic Assembly
Good News for the Assembly of Bet Yeshurun
No. 1806 / September 17, 2026
2026 Gatherings (services start promptly at 3:00 pm; doors open an hour earlier. )
10/17 Praise & Worship
10/18 Chodesh (Celebrating the 8th month of the Divine Year) * 10/19 Sabbath
10/24 Praise & Worship
10/26 Sabbath
10/10 Praise & Worship
10/12 Sabbath
10/31 Praise & Worship
11/2 Sabbath
11/7 Praise & Worship
11/9 Sabbath
* A Holy Day like Sabbaths (a day for no work)
2026 Schedule for Reading the Bible in One-Year
Ketuvim; Divrey ha’Yamim 2 (The Annals of Time) Second Book of Chronicles
10/1 - Chapters 13 – 16 10/2 - Chapters 17 – 20 10/3 - Chapters 21 – 24
10/4 - Chapters 25 – 28 10/5 - Chapters 29 – 32 10/6 - Chapters 33 – 36
1st Book of Enoch (Dedicated) R. H. Charles Translation
10/7 - Chapters 1 – 20 10/8 - Chapters 21 – 47 10/9 - Chapters 48 – 62
10/10 - Chapters 63 – 74 10/11 - Chapters 75 – 88 10/12 - Chapters 89 – 95
10/13 - Chapters 96 – 108
Book of Jubilees (Jobel: a joyful shout, a sound of trumpets) R. H. Charles Trans.
10/14 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/15 - Chapters 4 – 6 10/16 - Chapters 7 – 9
10/17 - Chapters 10 – 13 10/18 - Chapters 14 – 17 10/19 - Chapters 18 – 22
10/20 - Chapters 23 – 26 10/21 - Chapters 27 – 29 10/22 - Chapters 30 – 33
10/23 - Chapters 34 – 37 10/24 - Chapters 38 – 43 10/25 - Chapters 44 – 47
10/26 - Chapters 48 – 50
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); 1 Esdras; 1611 KJV
10/27 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/28 - Chapters 4 – 6 10/29 - Chapters 7 – 9
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); 2 Esdras; 1611 KJV
10/30 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/31 - Chapters 4 – 6 11/1 - Chapters 7 – 9
11/2 - Chapters 10 – 12 11/3 - Chapters 13 – 16
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); Tobit; 1611 KJV
11/4 - Chapters 1 – 3 11/5 - Chapters 4 – 6 11/6 - Chapters 7 – 10
11/7 - Chapters 11 – 14
Interested in joining Bet Yeshurun Assembly? Please contact Pastor ObadiYah by email, telephone, mail, or in person at a gathering of Yahushuah’s Body.
A Vine and Branches Parable
(John 15:1-16) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; men gather them, cast them into the fire and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so, shall ye be My Disciples. As the Father loved me, so I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I spoke to you that my joy might remain in you, and your joy might be full. This is My commandment: That ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard of my Father I made known to you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I chose and ordained you, that ye should go bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you.”
This Shofar examines Yahushuah’s Parable (a symbolic narrative of common life) to Students of the Word (Disciples). Those spiritual words figuratively portray a garden scene that speak of Disciples keeping His commandments (abiding in Him) while they await His return. Also recall this Teaching comes after being with close friends at a meal (think eating His Bread of Life). If Bet Yeshurun Assembly (BYA) does likewise, we also abide with Him and can expect answered prayers: (Luke 8:9-10) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; they gather and throw them in the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.”
That last passage also identifies an awful result from not abiding in Him (the true vine). Branches (Disciples) that stay engaged to their Source of Life can avoid a fate of withering, dying, being clipped and burned. Furthermore, those abiding in Messiah can pray to YAHUAH (the vinedresser), a tiller of the soil: (1 John 5:14) “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us.” (Mark 11:24) “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
The Son elaborates about glorifying the Father with our spiritual fruit, which is produced through HIS Way of Love: (John 15:8-10) By this, My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My Disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary notes the 1st century AD Galatian church as "susceptible to quick impressions and sudden changes with a fickleness equal to their courage and enthusiasm and a constant liability to their fruit of excessive vanity.” Paul duly notes the following dead works of flesh are to be pruned and burned from their (and our) lives: (Galatians 5:19-21) Works of flesh are manifest, which are; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft(Strong’s Concordance: G5331; pharmakeia; medication (pharmacy), magic, lit. or fig. sorcery), hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresy, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.
On the other hand, Paul reminds them (and BYA) of the spiritual fruit we can produce if we stay attached to the Vine: (Galatians 5:22-23) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
This next Vine and Branches Parable speaks of the Father pruning His Vineyard to yield a sweet crop. Ancient physical Israel, however, didn’t remain attached to Elohim’s Torah Commandments and became wild grapes! (Isaiah 5:1-2) Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. He fenced it, gathered out the stones thereof, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in the midst of it, and made a winepress therein. He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. (Hosea 10:1-2) Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself. According to the multitude of his fruit, he increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land, they made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty. He shall break down their altars, spoil their images.
Today's Disciples (spiritual Israel) have renewed opportunities to obey Elohim in having their dead wood pruned to produce spiritual fruit. While early Disciples didn’t need much pruning, today’s Disciples often have dead wood to remove! (John 15:6) If a man abides not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withered; and men gather and cast them in the fire, and they are burned.
A likely reason ancient Disciples produced more spiritual fruit? They were attached to the Word. BYA does likewise in reading the Word and doing it! (John 15:3) You are already clean because of the word, which I spoke to you.
In other words, the Vine’s Branches produce Spiritual fruits by keeping Elohim's commandments: (1 John 2:3-6) By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him” and does not keep His commandments is a liar and Truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 5:2-3) By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and keep His commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments.
Today’s Disciples seeking to obey Torah ought to be encouraged. Father not only loves the effort; HE's with the obedient every step of the Way. As the Father did for the Vine, He does likewise for the Vine’s Branches: (John 8:28-29) I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone for I always do those things that please Him.
This psalm also speaks of physical Israel transplanted as a Vine from Egypt (Mitzraim) into a Promised Land garden! (Pm. 80:8-15) You brought a vine out of Egypt; You cast out nations and planted it. You prepared room for it, caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with its shadow, and mighty cedars with its boughs. She sent out her boughs to the Sea and her branches to the River. Why have You broken down her hedges? So, that all who pass by the Way pluck her fruit? The boar of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it. Return, we beseech You, O’ Elohim of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, visit this vine and the vineyard Your right hand planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
The end of that passage reveals the dire consequences of wild beasts devouring those who reject YAH's Covenant. When Israel disobeyed Torah, they lost Elohim's protective hedge and became subject to the beastly attacks of pagan nations. Rather than fruits of righteousness and justice, they produced the sour fruits of oppression. While a bereaved Father sent Prophets to awaken and instruct His children of Israel to return, they ignored HIM: (Isaiah 5:3-7) Now O' inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it. For the vineyard of YAHUAH of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.”
Time and time again, physical Israel disregards the Heavenly Father’s prophets: (Ezekiel 17:5-10) Then he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a fertile field; He placed it by abundant waters and set it like a willow tree. And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature; Its branches turned toward him, but its roots were under it. So, it became a vine, brought forth branches, and put forth shoots. But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, from the garden terrace where it had been planted, that he might water it. It was planted in good soil by many waters, to bring forth branches, to bear fruit and to be a majestic vine. Say, ‘Thus, says Sovereign YAHUAH: "Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots, cut off its fruit, and leave it to wither? All its spring leaves will wither and no great power, or many will be needed to pluck it up by its roots. . .Moreover the Word of YAHUAH came to me, "Say now to the rebellious house: 'Do you not know what these things mean?'”
Ezekiel’s prophecy also speaks to spiritual Israel. What nation might he identify? With America’s national symbol of a bald-eagle, might Americans be pictured as Vine branches that turn from Elohim in seeking America’s provisions and promises under government ordinances and decrees (god)? This Vine and Branches Parable also prophecies a rejection of Elohim’s King! (Matthew 21:33-46) Hear another parable: there was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. He leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. When vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. The vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said, “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.” So, they took, cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
I pray BYA chooses to abide in Yah’s Word and Promise of always dwelling with us when we seek to love Elohim by obeying their Commandments!(John 14:14-15) "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
YAHUAH Elohim, thank you for a lesson on abiding in Yahushuah. May the love of your Beloved Son help us to obediently walk according to your Will, and may Elohim’s mercy be upon us when we fall short of Your Way of Life. Shalom, Elder Curt
Announcements
Thoughts for Meditation
Isaac Newton, mathematician and physicist in the 17th century - “I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.”
Galileo Galilei (1564 -1642 astronomer) - “When I reflect on so many profoundly marvelous things that persons have grasped, sought, and done, I recognize even more clearly that human intelligence is a work of God, and one of the most excellent.”
Martin Luther - “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”