by Rabbi Altonaga | Dec 12, 2024 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayishlach, Weekly Parsha
Yakov was afraid1. On a surface level, this is simple to understand. In this week’s Torah portion (Vayishalach), Yakov hears that his vengeful brother Eisav is approaching him with 400 armed men. Yakov’s camp of women and children should be doomed. Yet, Yakov...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Nov 21, 2024 | Chayei Sarah, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Abraham’s servant Eliezer is searching for a wife for Issac in this week’s Torah portion (Chayei Sarah). When he sees Rebecca, Eliezer doesn’t walk, he runs to her. The Midrash explains that there was a miracle occurring for her and the water at the...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Oct 22, 2024 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, V'Zos HaBracha, Weekly Parsha
The Maharil Diskin (a great rabbi in Russia and later Jerusalem in the 1800s) was walking down the street with a student and casually mentioned the number of leaves on a tree that they were passing. The student was in awe at his seemingly supernatural ability to...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Sep 26, 2024 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Rosh Hashana
Why is Rosh Hashanah before Yom Kippur? On Rosh Hashanah, we are judged, and a verdict is decreed for how our coming year will go. On Yom Kippur, we do tchuva (return to G-d) and we are forgiven for our transgressions. Our Sages tell us that on Yom...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Aug 30, 2024 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Re'eh, Weekly Parsha
A Canadian court order recently came out that prevented a law from coming into effect. That law, might have effectively put an end to Jewish kosher meat production in Canada (without affecting the meat production of any other group, I might add). Thanks to...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Aug 2, 2024 | Mattos, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
You told him you’d go volunteer at the food bank together today, but you just don’t feel like going out anymore. Does it really matter if you just don’t show up? Just because you said it, doesn’t mean you have a real obligation to do it, right? Words are...
