by Danielle Altonaga | May 19, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Jerusalem
Today is Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day. It commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty in 1967. I love Jerusalem. I was blessed to live there for nearly three years. Have you ever wondered why Jerusalem is so important to us? King...
by Danielle Altonaga | Apr 21, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Psst…did you hear?! This week’s Torah portion talks about Tzaras, a skin disease. Tzaras is often mistranslated as leprosy. Rabbi Shraga Simmons explains that, in fact, Tzaras is “a physical manifestation of a spiritual deficiency”. Which spiritual deficiency?...
by Danielle Altonaga | Mar 31, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Passover
In the weeks leading up to Passover, (and sometimes starting right after Purim) my groups on Facebook and WhatsApp are full of jokes, memes, and tales bemoaning the task of cleaning for the holiday. There are a few reasons for this. Some have to do with feeling...
by Danielle Altonaga | Feb 3, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
“Egypt pursued them [the Israelites] and overtook them…all the horse[s] and chariots of Pharaoh”. Exodus 14:9 What an intense moment! The Israelites were seemingly trapped – caught between Pharaoh’s army and a vast sea! This was no minor army either; it was the...
by Danielle Altonaga | Jan 4, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
“So he [Jacob] blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Israel bless saying ‘May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menashe…” Bereishis 48:20 Before Jacob passes away, he gives blessings to all of his children. To his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe, he...
