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...
by Shmuel Klein | Nov 28, 2025 | Vayeitzei, Weekly Parsha
Parshas Vayeitzei begins with Jacob running for his life. He’s leaving the comfort of his home, his parents, his yeshiva, and everything familiar—and entering a world that is spiritually darker, morally confusing, and full of challenges. And it’s precisely there that...
by Rabbi Shaps | Nov 20, 2025 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Toldos, Weekly Parsha
One of the central themes of this week’s parsha is the story of the blessings—how Yaakov, at Rivka’s instruction, presents himself as Esav and receives the brachos from Yitzchak. The obvious question arises: If Hashem wanted Yaakov to receive these blessings, why...
by Danielle Altonaga | Nov 14, 2025 | Chayei Sarah, Weekly Parsha
This week’s Torah portion begins on a somber note: Avraham’s wife, Sarah, passes away. The grieving Avraham wants to make sure that Sarah has a proper burial. In order to acquire a grave site, he needs the cooperation of the children of Cheis, who are the...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Nov 7, 2025 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Vayera, Weekly Parsha
Abraham gets up early in the morning, saddles his donkey, and climbs Mount Moria to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the last moment, G-d sends an angel to stop him. וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־תִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־הַנַּ֔עַר וְאַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָה כִּ֣י | עַתָּ֣ה...
by Shmuel Klein | Oct 31, 2025 | Lech Lecha, Weekly Parsha
When Hashem tells Avraham “Lech Lecha mei’artzecha” — “Go for yourself from your land” — Rashi famously explains that “Lech Lecha” means for your benefit, for your good. At first glance, that seems strange. Avraham is being asked to leave everything — his birthplace,...
