In Parashat Vayakhel, we’re confronted with a striking question: why does the Torah begin Tabernacle‑building instructions by first reminding Israel to guard the Sabbath? Dive into this week’s teaching to uncover how God defines the boundaries of worship—placing holy zeal within the framework of divine command. From the golden calf’s misguided passion to King Uzziah’s fatal overreach, we see how enthusiasm without knowledge can lead us astray. Through vivid biblical examples and practical modern parallels—like the mitzvah of tzitzit—we learn that true service honors God’s instructions and flourishes within His boundaries. Join us to discover how balancing zeal with humility transforms spiritual labor into genuine worship and deepens our connection to the Divine.

How often do you see a penny in a parking lot? How often do you pick it up? In today’s economy, it doesn’t seem worth the effort to pick up a penny. What value does it really have? What can you buy for a single penny? What’s the point? Sometimes we think about that when it comes to people as well. Maybe we think, “They’ll never amount to anything. Why invest my time in them?” But is this the way God wants us to treat others?

Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever been part of a team that accomplished something really great, but for whatever reason, you weren’t given any recognition? That can be a painful experience. But sometimes we need to follow the example of Moses and Yeshua and give up ourselves for the greater good. If you’re not sure what I’m saying, we have a great example we can explore in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

How does it feel to be called a hypocrite? What is a hypocrite? Yeshua criticized many of the Pharisees of his day for their hypocrisy. But they were looked up to as the spiritual leaders of their day. Can you be a hypocrite without even realizing it? This week’s Torah portion begins God’s instructions for building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. And there’s a certain item within the Tabernacle that can teach us a great deal about hypocrisy… and how to avoid it.

In Matthew 15, Yeshua calls a Gentile woman a "dog". Is this term racist? Was Yeshua racist? How do we reconcile his treatment of this Gentile woman with his character and mission? This week's Torah portion just might hold the key to unlock this door for us.

Pentecost and Mount Sinai: What’s the Connection? Did you know that the Pentecost event in Acts 2 connects directly to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai? In this video, we’ll explore how God revealed Himself to Israel with fire, wind, and voices at Sinai and how the Holy Spirit did the same at Pentecost. Learn how the disciples’ experience in Acts 2 was part of a bigger plan that started at Mount Sinai and continues today.

God tells Israel to "guard the matzah." What does this mean and what relevance does this have to us today?

At his last meal with his beloved disciples, Yeshua shared a cup of wine with them saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Later on that night he went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the side of the Mount of Olives in order to pray. As the light of the full moon beamed down from the night sky and sweat rolled down his face like great drops of blood, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Have you ever thought about the symbolism of this “cup” Yeshua is referring to? We might just find the answers in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

When God called Moses he didn't feel he was worthy of the task set before him. What was it that made him realize he could do what God had called him to do? Sometimes all we can see is our limitations and inadequacies when we have an entire list of assets we haven’t even tapped into. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that we were assigned our individualized task here on planet Earth by a wise and all-knowing Creator who tailored us specifically for that purpose. Sometimes we can become so focused on who we aren’t that we fail to remember who we are. Is that you?

Paul says that Gentiles who come to Yeshua are grafted into the “nourishing root of the olive tree” of Israel (Romans 11:17), “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6), and “Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:39). How do daughter of a pagan priest, two adopted sons, a marriage contract, and an Israelite who walks like an Egyptian help us explain Paul’s radical good news for Gentiles? Join me to find out in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Hope is powerful. Unfortunately, many people today have lost hope. As followers of Yeshua, we have a hope that is greater than what this world provides. However, it is easy to lose sight of it. Both the biblical character, Joseph, and #LOTR character, Aragorn, have something in common that may help us recover hope in dark times. Learn more in this week's 5 Minute Torah.

How do Pharaoh’s dreams connect with Peter’s vision in Acts? Could we be misinterpreting key messages in scripture? In “Dreams and Visions,” explore how Joseph’s interpretations shaped Egypt’s destiny and how Peter’s vision reshaped the mission to the Gentiles. Were Pharaoh’s dreams literal? Does Peter’s vision mean the Torah’s dietary laws were abolished? Or is there a deeper message about God’s unchanging holiness and His desire for all people to be united under His guidance? Discover how these visions connect to God’s eternal truth and challenge us to expand our understanding.

Sometimes our eyes can play tricks on us. Other times we’ve been intentionally duped. Still other times we may not have all of the information we need to accurately interpret what we’re seeing. What does all of this have to do with understanding our current Torah portion? Stick around to find out in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

You’ve been given a name, an identity. What traits do you associate with your name—your identity? Character traits like Purpose, Success, Motivated, Content, etc. or traits like Purposeless, Failure, Lethargic, Depressed, etc.? If you’ve ever wanted a new name—a new identity—a new lease on life, then stick around to find out how you can receive one in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Yeshua - We know him as the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the World—and rightly so. But he is also the means by which we can connect with God. How so? I think there’s a special insight about Yeshua’s power of connection in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

This week’s Torah portion, Toldot, explores Jacob and Esau’s backstory and highlights Isaac’s humility in preserving his father Abraham’s legacy. Isaac’s selflessness foreshadows Malachi’s prophecy of restored relationships, first fulfilled through John the Immerser’s mission and pointing to a future realization. Find out more in this week's 5 Minute Torah.

Are you looking for a quick and meaningful connection to the weekly Torah portion? In this week’s 5 Minute Torah, we dive into Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1–25:18), uncovering profound lessons about living as spiritual sojourners and aliens in a material world. This Torah portion covers Sarah’s death, Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah, and the love story of Isaac and Rebecca—each packed with timeless wisdom for our spiritual journeys today.

Is there a means by which we can defeat mortality, in this world, not merely in the resurrection? This week's Torah portion may just give us the key to unlocking this mystery. Please join me as we unravel this long-hidden secret in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

DNA. The building blocks of life. It’s the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and function of an organism. Every living organism depends on this foundational element. It not only stores the genetic information needed for an organism to develop and function, but also to reproduce. But what happens if that DNA is damaged? What if it mutates? How does that affect the subsequent generations of that organism? Will the offspring resemble the parent? What if that DNA is continually corrupted in every generation? If you’re wondering how all of this connects with this week’s Torah portion, then stick around for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

What was the character difference between Abraham and Noah? Most people couldn’t tell you. In rabbinic literature, however, there is a marked difference between the two. To the casual reader, they are similar. One is called by God into an Ark to separate his family from the wickedness of the world, and the other is called out of the idolatrous practices of Ur to lead his family in monotheism. But what’s going on behind the scenes and what lessons can we learn from these two pioneers of our faith? In order to find out, please join me for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Heaven… The City of God. The eternal reward of those in Christ and the resting place of the saints… Or is it??? Is our hope to one day walk the streets of gold in this place called Heaven? Is this the eternal destination of the righteous? Or have we had the wool pulled over our eyes and exchanged our eternal hope for a counterfeit? If I’ve got your attention and you want to know more, then stick around for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

In the days of the Apostles, all the disciples of Yeshua were Jewish and trying to figure out what to do with the Gentiles who were coming to faith. Today, however, followers of Yeshua are predominantly Gentile—so much so that Gentile Christians don’t have a clue as to what to do with Jews who believe in Yeshua—especially those who hold on to the covenant God made with them at Sinai. It seems, the tables are turned a complete 180º from the situation in the days of the Apostles. However, there has been a resurgence of excitement over the Torah from Gentiles in recent years and we are faced with a similar dilemma that the Apostles faced in the first century. Where do Gentiles fit into this Jewish faith? We’ve discussed this issue some in the past, but now we’re going to hit it again from a different angle in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

In Matthew 15, Yeshua called some of the Pharisees of his day “blind guides.” He then followed it up by saying, “And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14). But what about you? Have you been a blind guide and led someone into a pit without even knowing it? Let’s take a look at this idea together in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

We’re living in a time similar to the days of King Josiah in which the Torah has been lost among the followers of Yeshua. Now that we’ve rediscovered it, what are we supposed to do with it? Let’s explore this idea in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

What if you had a magical key that could unlock any door in the world? What door would you use it on? This seems like something you might read about in a children’s story or maybe a fantasy book, right? But what if I told you that there is a key to unlocking global redemption that most people are completely oblivious to. What if you had THIS key? Would you be willing to use it? Now, what if I told you that I can give you this key? Does it sound too good to be true? If you want to know more about this key and the power that can be at your fingertips, then stick around for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

How to distinguish between True Prophets or False Prophets? Today, there are people all around the world who claim to be prophets of God. They display signs & wonders, miraculous healings or physical manifestations that defy human reasoning. They speak prophetic utterances that come to pass just as they were spoken. How could these be anything other than men and women of God? Aren’t these signs of a true prophet? Actually, they might be signs of a false prophet… What do I mean? Let’s talk about it in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Did Paul create a monster with his concept of "One New Man"? Does God judge all people equally or does He have different expectations for Israel versus the nations? By what criteria does He judge us and what standard does He hold us to? Are Gentiles obligated to the Torah the same as Jews? Paul talks about “One New Man,” but does that look like a Jew, a Gentile, or what? If you would like to hear what I have to say and then contribute to the discussion, then stick around for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Have you ever been given a seemingly impossible task, whether by your job or by your family? It's so overwhelming that you just want to throw your hands up in the air and walk away. What about when it comes to the difficult things God asks of you? If you’re struggling with this, then be sure to check out this week’s 5 Minute Torah. Eating Kosher Elephants :-)

Do our individual actions, even our hidden sins, affect those around us? Let’s talk about it in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Can violence ever bring about peace? Isn’t violence the opposite of peace? Maybe… But maybe not. Let’s explore this idea together in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" What does Ralphie from A Christmas Story have in common with the false prophet Balaam? Let's find out in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Has God given up on you? Surely not. If you can’t see His love because of the way you see yourself, then stick around and learn about the God of Second Chances in this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

What if you could simply speak a word that would alter the course of a person’s life forever? How would you wield that power? If you want to know the TRUE POWER of how you can change someone’s life with merely the spoken word, then stick around for this week’s 5 Minute Torah.

Pentecost and Mount Sinai: What’s the Connection? Did you know that the Pentecost event in Acts 2 connects directly to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai? In this video, we’ll explore how God revealed Himself to Israel with fire, wind, and voices at Sinai and how the Holy Spirit did the same at Pentecost. Learn how the disciples’ experience in Acts 2 was part of a bigger plan that started at Mount Sinai and continues today.