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,...
by Danielle Altonaga | Jan 8, 2026 | Danielle Altonaga, Shemos, Weekly Parsha
Imagine this scenario: You: “Hey…are you ok?” Friend: “No, not really”. Your friend begins to tell you about something serious – maybe an illness, a relationship breakdown, or a loss… Oh, boy. What do you say? What do you do? How do you comfort your friend? Let’s...
by Danielle Altonaga | Dec 12, 2025 | Danielle Altonaga, Vayeishev, Weekly Parsha
In memory of my father, Avraham ben Chaim Reuven Have you ever had one of those days? A day in which everything feels impossible? You may think “This is my limit. I can’t handle anything else.” In this week’s Parsha, Yosef reminds us that, even in our hardest...
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 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 Danielle Altonaga | Jul 11, 2025 | Balak, Danielle Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Many children are taught, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. This is often good advice… But what if we’re not meant to succeed in a certain area? Here’s an example: In high school, I tried desperately to do well in math. I went to extra help sessions at...