More about neshamah

Taking a fresh look at salvation of the soul from the Jewish perspective reveals a completely different way of understanding the teaching of Yeshua and the message of the apostles.

Channels through the Sea

What does "salvation" mean? This teaching introduces the broad range of ways the Bible uses the term salvation and considers problems with the conventional definition of the term among believers.

Korah Took Nothing

Rebooting Beth Immanuel after the Covid-19 shutdown, we come back together on Shabbat Korach and learn a lesson about our inner Moses and our inner Korah while working through the implications of Distinction theology in the synagogue service.

The Brilliant Disguise

Who are you really? Before we can begin to discuss the riddle of Jewish identity and Gentile identity in Messiah, we need a firm grasp on spiritual identity. This teaching from Shabbat Zachor removes the costume to reveal the real person inside you.

The Quick and the Dead

What's the differences between "the quick and the dead"? With a chasidic spin on salvation, here's an important teaching about the soul of every human being and "The Quickening" that we seek as the disciples of the Messiah.

The Unapproachable Light

Heaven and Hell are a heartbeat away! Most people who visit the World of Souls desribe "going into the Light," a being of pure love, but not every Near Death Experience is so positive. What does the scripture teach us about the Great Light? And what do Near Death Experiences tell us about the other side of the great divide?

The blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

The Life Review (Cheshbon HaNefesh)

"My whole life flashed before my eyes!" In the World of Souls, everyone gives an account for all the deeds committed in the body. This teaching compares the Jewish concept of Cheshbon HaNefesh (Account of the Soul) with reports of Near Death Experiences in which a person goes through a complete life review.

Gathered to Our People

People on their deathbeds often report seeing angelic beings or even the presence of deceased family members. Are these merely hallucinations created by a dying brain, or are they glimpses into the World of Souls. This teaching from Shabbat Vayechi explores the meaning behind the biblical euphemism of being gathered to one's people.

When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people (Genesis 49:33)

Near Death Experiences

Are reports of Near Death Experiences (NDE) credible? People resuscitated from clinical brain-death sometimes report out-of-body experiences in the World of Souls. Does that correlate with the Bible? Do these reports have anything to teach us about the state of the dead before the resurrection? This teaching explores the NDE in light of traditional Jewish teaching and New Testament expectation.

Anatomy of the Soul: Kids Say the Darndest Things

What if you had memories from before your conception? Does the undying soul pre-exist human conception and birth? Here's a crash course on the anatomy of the soul, including children's soulish memories of heaven from before conception and birth.