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...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jul 14, 2023 | Mattos, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
You told him you’d go volunteer at the food bank together today, but you just don’t feel like going out anymore. Does it really matter if you just don’t show up? Just because you said it, doesn’t mean you have a real obligation to do it, right? Words are...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jun 23, 2023 | Korach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
In this week’s Torah portion, Korach leads a rebellion. Although, in truth, Korach’s goal is power and prestige, he veils it within philosophical arguments and appeals to justice. He creates an argument that echoes throughout the camp and brings many...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jun 16, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
I started keeping kosher over a decade ago. I remember the strange sensation of feeling both proud and self-conscious at the same time… I knew I was making the right decision, yet I felt awkward about explaining to friends that I needed kosher food, or that certain...
by Rabbi Altonaga | May 24, 2023 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Shavuos
Shavuos. The most important holiday that nobody has ever heard of. Shavuos has a bit of middle child syndrome going on. It’s between the much longer holidays of Passover and Succos, and it certainly gets less fanfare than Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There...
