by Danielle Altonaga | Aug 6, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, Re'eh, Weekly Parsha
Jingle, clink, jingle. When I was studying in Jerusalem, I always had coins in my bag. One of my teachers, Rebbetzin Ruthie Karlinsky, had advised her students: “Keep a bag of small coins with you. That way, whenever somebody asks for Tzedakah, you will...
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 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 Danielle Altonaga | Apr 23, 2026 | Acharei Mos Kedoshim, Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? Has another person ever hurt your feelings, by saying something that bothered you? Have you ever had a respectful discussion with a friend, and...
by Danielle Altonaga | Mar 6, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, Ki Sisa, Weekly Parsha
Have you ever been truly inspired by something? Perhaps a personal miracle, an amazing event, or a profound lesson? You felt moved. You felt uplifted. You vowed to make a big change. Not to be a downer, but…did the change last? Or did the inspiration eventually...
by Danielle Altonaga | Feb 6, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha, Yisro
Who doesn’t love a good simcha? Family, friends, and, of course, great food! Many of us appreciate a delicious meal, but have you ever thought about its spiritual impact? In this week’s Torah portion, Jethro converts to Judaism, and as part of the celebration,...
