by Rabbi Altonaga | Mar 31, 2026 | Pesach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga
At the beginning of Passover, we tell our children: בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ Because of this, Hashem did for me and took me out of Egypt. Exodus 13:8 The simple meaning is as an explanation for the Seder. Hashem took us out...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Mar 26, 2026 | Pesach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Shabbos
This Shabbos is Shabbos HaGadol. The Big Shabbos. The Shabbos before Pesach. Many families have already “turned over” their homes to be completely clean for the holiday. Some people have been working tirelessly all week vacuuming, scrubbing, and...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Feb 27, 2026 | Purim, Rabbi Michael Altonaga
This Monday evening, we begin the holiday of Purim. That night, we read the Megillah of Esther. The story of Purim. This gives us a picture of the historical realities of the time and a greater understanding of why we celebrate the holiday. The...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jan 29, 2026 | Beshalach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
I was in Toronto this week for my brother-in-law’s wedding. The day before the wedding there was a terrible storm. Over 60 centimetres of snow fell for the largest snowfall of a Toronto storm in recorded history. Flights were cancelled. Cars...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jan 2, 2026 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayechi, Weekly Parsha
Jacob’s final request to his sons was that he be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs in the land of Canaan. Before Joseph goes to fulfill this request, he mentions very explicitly to Pharaoh’s household that his father adjured him to do so and that he would return. ...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Dec 4, 2025 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayishlach, Weekly Parsha
I had an unusual opportunity as a baal tchuva (someone who became religious later in life) that I got to pick my own Hebrew name. I chose the name Yisrael. There are a lot of meanings behind this name, but the verse that introduces the name for the first...
