by Rabbi Altonaga | Jan 12, 2024 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayera, Weekly Parsha
Seven of the plagues in Egypt happen in this weeks Torah portion, and you have to imagine that the Egyptians are pretty used to the pattern by plague seven. Every month, Moshe would request that Pharaoh let the Jews go, then Pharaoh would say “no,” then another...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Dec 15, 2023 | Chanukah, Mikeitz, Rabbi Michael Altonaga
When times are dark, why does it feel like no light ever existed? Depression seems to blot out all glimmers of happiness and makes you feel like that is all that ever was or will be. In our Torah portion Pharoh tells Joseph of his ominous dream: Then Pharaoh...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Nov 17, 2023 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Toldos, Weekly Parsha
In this week’s Torah portion, Isaac travels to Gerar (a city in the region known as Gaza) and encountered the Philistines (a no longer extant people, likely of Greek origin, who lived in the area. Not to be confused with another group of people who more recently gave...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Sep 22, 2023 | High Holidays, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Yom Kippur
There is a Marvel superhero called Dr. Strange who tends to visit “parallel universes.” Some of these places are completely alien to us and the differences between them are vast. Yet, through his travels, it comes to light that many of those universes exist as they...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Aug 24, 2023 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
“Aba (Dad),” my son asked me, “how will I become an aba?” The question has many forms, but any one brings sweat to the brow of parents everywhere. Fortunately for me, my mother had just gotten me the book “Stuff Every Dad Should Know.” The book helpfully...
