by Rabbi Shaps | Jan 5, 2024 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Shemos, Weekly Parsha
What defines someone as “Great”? In the Torah world we refer to a leader as a Gadol. Someone who is great. The word Gadol has a number of meanings. We use it to mean large or big. We use it to mean great and we also use it to refer to an adult as opposed to a child....
by Rabbi Shaps | Dec 1, 2023 | Israel, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
Rationally, it is hard to understand why the world cares so much about what is happening in Israel. There are bigger conflicts in other parts of the world, but everyone is obsessed with Israel. One tiny little country surround by Arab countries hundreds of times as...
by Rabbi Shaps | Nov 23, 2023 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
Rationally, it is hard to understand why the world cares so much about what is happening in Israel. There are bigger conflicts in other parts of the world, but everyone is obsessed with Israel. One tiny little country surround by Arab countries hundreds of times as...
by Rabbi Shaps | Oct 5, 2023 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Shemini Atzeres, Simchat Torah, Sukkot
Tonight, we begin Shemini Atzeres, the final day of the complete holiday season. We have truly experienced a beautiful and joyous Sukkos holiday. The weather has been amazing and it has been an absolute pleasure being able to sit in the Sukkah to eat, read,...
by Rabbi Shaps | Sep 7, 2023 | Nitzavim, Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Rosh Hashana, Weekly Parsha
A week from Sunday we will be hearing the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The likelihood is that the Baal Toke’a – the one who blows for the congregation, will blow again later that day for someone else who couldn’t come to shul. The JET Shofar blowing and...
by Rabbi Shaps | Aug 3, 2023 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Weekly Parsha
We are all familiar with the old adage. If you want to get to the next level, you have to work hard for it and even experience a little pain in order to make progress. Moshe tells the people that “Hashem fed you Manna in the desert in order to afflict you and to test...
