by Rabbi Shaps | May 28, 2026 | Naso, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
A man walks into a Rabbi’s office, and says “Rabbi, you have to make me a Kohen. I’ll donate $10,000 to the synagogue!” The Rabbi shook his head. “I’m sorry, it doesn’t work that way. You can’t just buy your way into...
by Rabbi Shaps | May 1, 2026 | Omer, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
A young man is meeting with his prospective father-in-law to discuss the upcoming marriage. “So,” the father asks, “how do you plan to support my daughter?” “I will study Torah,” the young man replies, “and G-d will...
by Rabbi Shaps | Apr 6, 2026 | Pesach, Rabbi Zischa Shaps
As we approach the final days of Pesach, we have an opportunity to pause and reflect on the enduring lessons of the holiday. At the Seder, we retold the story of the Exodus, recreating the experience for ourselves and our children. We ate Matzoh and Maror, recalling...
by Rabbi Shaps | Mar 12, 2026 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Vayakel, Weekly Parsha
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” This famous quote, attributed to Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey, underscores a fundamental truth: you cannot know who you truly are without...
by Rabbi Shaps | Feb 12, 2026 | Mishpatim, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
Our morning study group has been learning Tractate Bava Kamma, which deals with the laws of damages — for example, the classic case: what happens if my ox gores your ox. While that may not seem very relevant today, the principles behind these laws are timeless. And of...
