by Rabbi Shaps | Jul 16, 2026 | Devarim, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
How important is Derech Eretz? Is it simply good etiquette, or is it something much deeper? The Torah teaches us that the respect we show others, especially in ordinary interactions, is not incidental—it reveals what is truly in our hearts. In this...
by Danielle Altonaga | Jul 9, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, mattos-masei, Weekly Parsha
When I was growing up, I loved performing in plays. In addition to performance skills, I learned some valuable life lessons in the theatre. Through much of my adolescence, I was part of a theatre troupe called CharActors. Each year, we would learn and rehearse...
by Shmuel Klein | Jul 2, 2026 | Pinchas, Rabbi Shmuel Klein, Weekly Parsha
The 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, which was on Thursday, began a period in the Jewish calendar known as the Three Weeks: a time when we remember the events that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple. One of the tragedies...
by Madison Taylor | Jun 25, 2026 | Uncategorized
By Rabbi Zischa Shaps The story of Bilaam and his donkey always reminds me of the old joke of a woman who is pushing a baby carriage down the street. A passerby smiles and says, “May I see the baby?” He looks into the carriage and is shocked to see a tiny old man...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jun 18, 2026 | Korach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
This week’s Torah portion discusses the Rebellion of Korach. Much ink is spilled over the arguments brought by Korach and his followers and how Moshe dealt with the confrontation. Off the page though, hidden away in a Sanhedrin 109b, our Sages reveal how...
by Danielle Altonaga | Jun 11, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, Shelach, Weekly Parsha
Imagine this: You have a friend – let’s call him Bob. Bob complains to you: “Nobody likes me. Nobody wants to hang out with me”. “That’s not true!” You exclaim. I am having a bunch of friends over tonight. Come join us.” Everyone comes over, and Bob does too. All of...
by Shmuel Klein | Jun 4, 2026 | Bahalosecha, Weekly Parsha
In this week’s Torah portion, Beha’aloscha, the Jewish people continue their journey through the desert. But they do not travel according to their own schedule. The Torah tells us: “Al pi Hashem yachanu, v’al pi Hashem yisau”“By the word of G-d they would camp, and by...
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 Altonaga | May 20, 2026 | Naso, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
A man and his wife got into a fight. The woman asked her husband to take out the trash. He refused. He said, that it was beneath his dignity to take out the garbage. She said that it was the mans job to take out the trash and that she was busy...
by Rabbi Altonaga | May 14, 2026 | Bamidbar, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
One death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic. – Joseph Stalin A poignant and chilling statement (especially given the source). More so because it strikes so true. Most people barely notice when tens of thousands die in conflicts in Sudan or...
