by Rabbi Altonaga | Dec 4, 2025 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayishlach, Weekly Parsha
I had an unusual opportunity as a baal tchuva (someone who became religious later in life) that I got to pick my own Hebrew name. I chose the name Yisrael. There are a lot of meanings behind this name, but the verse that introduces the name for the first...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Nov 7, 2025 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayera, Weekly Parsha
Abraham gets up early in the morning, saddles his donkey, and climbs Mount Moria to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the last moment, G-d sends an angel to stop him. וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־תִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־הַנַּ֔עַר וְאַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָה כִּ֣י | עַתָּ֣ה...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Oct 10, 2025 | High Holidays, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
There is a custom to say “good kvittel” in this time period, specifically leading up to Hoshana Raba, the last day of Succos. A “kvittel” is a document. In this case, it refers to the document that was written about what your year will be like. We give a blessing that...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Sep 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
When the Jewish people first entered the Land of Israel, they stood atop two mountains, Mount Eival and Mount Grizim. From one mountain, they proclaimed a series of blessings. From the other, they proclaimed a series of curses. How can you remember...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Aug 21, 2025 | Kosher, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
A Canadian court order came out that prevented a law from coming into effect. That law, might have effectively put an end to Jewish kosher meat production in Canada (without affecting the meat production of any other group, I might add). Thanks to this court ruling,...
