by Rabbi Shaps | May 29, 2025 | Bamidbar, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
With the recent visit of King Charles to Ottawa, one naturally begins to think about lineage and ancestry. We can almost picture the long line of Kings and Queens that date back hundreds of years. Royalty and titles are inherited, not necessarily earned. Yet, ancestry...
by Rabbi Shaps | Apr 24, 2025 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Shemini, Weekly Parsha
“With friends like these, who needs enemies?” We’ve all heard that saying. The pain inflicted by someone we trust as a friend can cut much deeper because our guard is down. When dealing with an obvious enemy, we remain vigilant, ensuring they don’t harm us. The...
by Rabbi Shaps | Mar 20, 2025 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Vayakel, Weekly Parsha
Research suggests that a healthy balance in relationships and interactions involves a ratio of 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction. The idea, popularized by relationship researcher John Gottman, is that healthy relationships and...
by Rabbi Shaps | Feb 6, 2025 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
The phrase “Manna from Heaven” is often used to describe an unexpected gift or a sudden stroke of good fortune. But is that truly what Manna was? In reality, the Manna provided to the Jewish people in the desert was not just a one-time gift; it was a daily...
by Rabbi Shaps | Nov 28, 2024 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Toldos, Weekly Parsha
We live in an age of instant gratification. We expect immediate results. If it takes too long to heat something up, we can just microwave it. If our internet is not super high speed, it is too slow. Why spend time cooking when we can buy ready made food? Why bother...
by Rabbi Shaps | Nov 7, 2024 | Lech Lecha, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
You are a star! When we want to compliment someone and tell them they are great, we refer to them as a star. We use the term star to refer to someone who excels at something and is special. What is it about a star that stands out? A view of the bright star cluster NGC...
