by Rabbi Shaps | Jul 29, 2021 | Rabbi Zischa Shaps, Va'eschanan, Weekly Parsha
You would think that if everyone followed the laws of the Torah, Hashem would be pleased and all would be good. Yet, the Talmud in Bava Metzia 30b teaches that Rabbi Yochanan said “Jerusalem was destroyed because people judged based on Torah Law”. The Gemara...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jul 8, 2021 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Uncategorized, Weekly Parsha
What are your priorities? It feels like there are a hundred things pulling us in different directions every day. Our boss, our parents, our friends, that guy arguing with us on Facebook… Where do we put our energy? How do we...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Jun 11, 2021 | Korach, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Mudslinging in politics is nothing new. Unfortunately, it has been going on since as long as there have been unscrupulous politicians. If you attack someone’s character, you can show that he is not fit to rule, which naturally leaves an opening for...
by Rabbi Altonaga | May 14, 2021 | Bamidbar, Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
Times are tough right now. The pandemic still rages in Ontario, grinding the health system to a crawl. Unexpected tragedy occurred in Meron, leaving dozens of young healthy people dead. Rockets fly over Israel and riots march in it’s...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Apr 16, 2021 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Tazria, Weekly Parsha
At NASA, when an endeavor is unsuccessful, they don’t call it failure, they call it “an early attempt.” There are two sides of this coin that make it such an effective methodology. 1. Wallowing in failure never helped anyone. If you...
by Rabbi Altonaga | Mar 19, 2021 | Rabbi Michael Altonaga, Weekly Parsha
“Give it your all!” “Do your best!” “Put your heart and soul into it!” When I was a kid in sports, my coaches and parents always told me these things. Pretty powerful messaging if you think about it. To give everything you...
