by Danielle Altonaga | Nov 14, 2025 | Chayei Sarah, Weekly Parsha
This week’s Torah portion begins on a somber note: Avraham’s wife, Sarah, passes away. The grieving Avraham wants to make sure that Sarah has a proper burial. In order to acquire a grave site, he needs the cooperation of the children of Cheis, who are the...
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 Shmuel Klein | Oct 31, 2025 | Lech Lecha, Weekly Parsha
When Hashem tells Avraham “Lech Lecha mei’artzecha” — “Go for yourself from your land” — Rashi famously explains that “Lech Lecha” means for your benefit, for your good. At first glance, that seems strange. Avraham is being asked to leave everything — his birthplace,...
by Rabbi Shaps | Oct 23, 2025 | Noach, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
The largest cruise ship in the world today is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. It stretches an incredible 365 meters long and can carry up to 7,600 passengers. Despite its size, it rarely spends more than a few days at sea before docking for passengers to...
by Danielle Altonaga | Oct 16, 2025 | Breishis, Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, we read the famous story of Cain and Abel. Abel brings an offering to G-d – chosen from the finest of his flock – which is accepted. Cain also brings an offering; however, the offering he brings is from the inferior portions of his crop, and G-d...
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 Shmuel Klein | Oct 1, 2025 | Sukkot
On Sukkos, we leave the comfort and stability of our homes and dwell in a sukkah—an inherently fragile and temporary structure. This mitzvah is not merely symbolic; it delivers a profound lesson about the nature of our world. The sukkah reminds us that life itself is...
by Rabbi Shaps | Sep 25, 2025 | Nitzavim, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha, Yom Kippur
The Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbos Shuva, from the opening words of the Haftarah: Shuva Yisrael—“Return, O Israel.” It reminds us that these days are meant for reflection, recalibration, and recommitment as we prepare to ask...
by Danielle Altonaga | Sep 18, 2025 | Danielle Altonaga, High Holidays, Rosh Hashana
I remember thinking, as a kid, that being an adult would be the BEST! I mean, ice cream whenever I felt like it? No official bedtime? How cool to be IN CHARGE of everything? Many of us love the idea of being in charge…so much so, that we forget that our power is...
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...
