by Rabbi Gotlib | Oct 13, 2023 | Breishis, Israel, Rabbi Gotlib, Weekly Parsha
“In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” It’s one of the most well known lines of any book, written at any point in history. But why does the Torah specifically start there? The word “Torah” literally means “teaching,” so if the whole point is for us...
by Rabbi Shaps | Oct 5, 2023 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Shemini Atzeres, Simchat Torah, Sukkot
Tonight, we begin Shemini Atzeres, the final day of the complete holiday season. We have truly experienced a beautiful and joyous Sukkos holiday. The weather has been amazing and it has been an absolute pleasure being able to sit in the Sukkah to eat, read,...
by Danielle Altonaga | Sep 22, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Haazinu, Weekly Parsha
We just had Rosh Hashanah, complete with apples, honey, and (hopefully) a reality check! On Rosh Hashanah, we crowned G-d king. We reminded ourselves that our health, wealth and success all come from G-d, and we prayed for a sweet year. Interestingly, in this week’s...
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 Gotlib | Sep 14, 2023 | High Holidays, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur
People often assume that Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are about the same thing. On the one hand, this makes sense to a degree. The days are referred to collectively as the Yomim Noraim or High Holy Days. They are united by the Ten Days of Repentance between them. They...
by Rabbi Shaps | Sep 7, 2023 | Nitzavim, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Rosh Hashana, Weekly Parsha
A week from Sunday we will be hearing the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The likelihood is that the Baal Toke’a – the one who blows for the congregation, will blow again later that day for someone else who couldn’t come to shul. The JET Shofar blowing and...
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 Danielle Altonaga | Aug 18, 2023 | Danielle Altonaga, Rosh Hashana
This learning is in the merit of Eliyahu Shmuel ben Tzipporah for a refuah shlema Tomorrow: Noun. “A mystical land where 99% of all human productivity, motivation and achievement is stored”. Think about it. How often do you procrastinate? You’re tired, you’re busy,...
by Rabbi Gotlib | Aug 14, 2023 | Rabbi Gotlib, Weekly Parsha
This week’s parshah open with a short, but powerful powerful verse: “רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃” “See, this day I set before you blessing and curse:” Deuteronomy 11:26 One listening to the parshah being...
by Rabbi Shaps | Aug 3, 2023 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
We are all familiar with the old adage. If you want to get to the next level, you have to work hard for it and even experience a little pain in order to make progress. Moshe tells the people that “Hashem fed you Manna in the desert in order to afflict you and to test...
