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RABBI STEPHEN EPSTEIN
רבי שמואל בן-יהושע
A MODERN CONSERVATIVE RABBI
Rabbi at Temple Sholom of Ontario
Serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, CA and all of Southern California
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D'Var Torah for Parashat Bo 5786
Parashat Bo 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בֹּא 24 January 2026 / 6 Sh’vat 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Bo is the 15th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16 Bo (“Come”) recounts the last three plagues that God inflicts on the Egyptians: locusts, d arkness, and death of firstborns. God commands the Israelites to offer a Passover lamb sacrifice. After the last plague, Pharaoh and the Egyptians demand that the Israelite

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
5 days ago4 min read


D'var Torah for Parashat Vaera 5786
Parashat Vaera 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא 17 January 2026 / 28 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vaera is the 14th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35 Vaera (“I Appeared”) opens as God promises to redeem the enslaved Israelites and bring them to the Promised Land. When Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to let the Israelites go, God sends a series of plagues: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, de

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 53 min read


D'var Torah for Parashat Shemot 5786
Parashat Shemot 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת 10 January 2026 / 21 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Shemot is the 13th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1 Shemot (“Names”) is the first Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It opens describing the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bu

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 23 min read


How to clean your Hanukkah Menorah
(Thank you to Meri Spitzer) How Do You Clean a Menorah? 1 Hot water: Put your menorah in a heat-proof container such as a large pan and pour hot water over the menorah until the wax melts off and floats to the top. Wipe off extra wax with a towel. Be careful that the wax doesn't drip into the sink drain as this can clog your drain! You can also spot clean by warming with a hair dryer (high heat, low fan). If your menorah is glass or ceramic, start with warm water to slowly w

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 22, 20252 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ / Parashat Vayigash 5786
Parashat Vayigash 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ 27 December 2025 / 7 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayigash is the 11th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27 Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bring Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, and Jacob and his childr

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 17, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ / Parashat Miketz 5786 20 December 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786
Parashat Miketz 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ 20 December 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Miketz is the 10th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 41:1-41: 52; Numbers 28:9-15 , 7:42-47 Miketz (“After”) follows Joseph as he interprets Pharaoh's dreams and rises to become second-in-command to Pharaoh. When Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt seeking food during a famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He insis

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 9, 20255 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב / Parashat Vayeshev 5786 13 December 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
Parashat Vayeshev 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב 13 December 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayeshev is the 9th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1-40:23 Vayeshev (“He Settled”) begins the story of Joseph, describing his rivalry with his brothers, slavery in Egypt, and imprisonment after his master’s wife frames him in response to Joseph’s refusal of her advances. It also contains the story of T

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 28, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח / Parashat Vayishlach 5786 6 December 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786
Parashat Vayishlach 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח 6 December 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayishlach is the 8th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43 Vayishlach (“He Sent”) follows Jacob and his family as Jacob wrestles with a man (commonly understood as an angel), is renamed Israel, and reconciles with his brother, Esau. Jacob’s daughter, Dina, is raped by a Hivite prince, and her brot

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 19, 20253 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּצֵא / Parashat Vayetzei 5786 29 November 2025 / 9 Kislev 5786
Parashat Vayetzei 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּצֵא 29 November 2025 / 9 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayetzei is the 7th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3 Vayetzei (“He Went Out”) opens as Jacob dreams about angels going up and down a ladder, and then continues on his journey toward the home of his uncle Laban. During years of indentured servitude, Jacob marries Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel, b

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 17, 20253 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת תּוֹלְדוֹת / Parashat Toldot 5786 22 November 2025 / 2 Kislev 5786
Parashat Toldot 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת תּוֹלְדוֹת 22 November 2025 / 2 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Toldot is the 6th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9 Toldot (“Generations”) opens with the births of Isaac and Rebecca’s twins, Jacob and Esau. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob in exchange for soup. Isaac and Rebecca travel to Gerar, where Isaac makes a peace treaty with King Abimelech. Isaac gives

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 11, 20253 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָֹרָה Parashat Chayei Sara 5786 15 November 2025 / 24 Cheshvan 5786
Parashat Chayei Sara 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָֹרָה 15 November 2025 / 24 Cheshvan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Chayei Sara is the 5th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1-25:18 Chayei Sarah (“The Life of Sarah”) opens as Sarah dies and Abraham buys the Cave of Machpelah to bury her. Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant meets Rebecca at a well, and Rebecca returns with the servant

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 5, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא Parashat Vayera 5786 8 November 2025 / 17 Cheshvan 5786
Parashat Vayera 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא 8 November 2025 / 17 Cheshvan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayera is the 4th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24 Vayera (“He Appeared”) opens as guests inform Abraham that Sarah will give birth. Despite Abraham’s attempts to convince God otherwise, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and Abraham sends away Hagar and Ishm

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 24, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת לֶךְ־לְךָ Parashat Lech-Lecha 5786 1 November 2025 / 10 Cheshvan 5786
Parashat Lech-Lecha 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת לֶךְ־לְךָ 1 November 2025 / 10 Cheshvan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Lech-Lecha is the 3rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 Lech Lecha (“Go Forth”) recounts Abraham’s (here known as Abram) first encounter with God, his journey to Canaan, the birth of his son Ishmael, the covenant between him, his descendants, and God, and God’s commandment to circumcise the mal

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 21, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת נֹחַ / Parashat Noach 5786 / 25 October 2025 / 3 Cheshvan 5786
Parashat Noach 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת נֹחַ 25 October 2025 / 3 Cheshvan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Noach is the 2nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32 Noach (“Noah”) begins as God decides to destroy mankind with a flood. At God’s command, the righteous Noah builds an ark, where Noah, his family, and select animals survive the flood. Noah’s children bear children, and several generations develop. God conf

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 17, 20253 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית / Parashat Bereshit 5786 18 October 2025 / 26 Tishrei 5786
Parashat Bereshit 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית 18 October 2025 / 26 Tishrei 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube 1 10-Minute Torah on YouTube 2 Parashat Bereshit is the 1st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8 Bereishit (“In the Beginning”), the first parashah in the annual Torah reading cycle, begins with God’s creation of the world. The first people, Adam and Eve, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are banished from th

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 14, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה / Parashat Vezot Haberakhah 15 Oct 2025 / 23 Tishrei 5786 (Simchat Torah)
Parashat Vezot Haberakhah / פָּרָשַׁת וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vezot Haberakhah is the 54th weekly Torah...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 9, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ / Parashat Ha’azinu 5786 4 October 2025 / 12 Tishrei 5786
Parashat Ha’azinu 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ 4 October 2025 / 12 Tishrei 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Ha’azinu is the 53rd...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Sep 24, 20253 min read


Parashat וַיֵּלֶךְ / Vayeilech 5786 27 September 2025 / 5 Tishrei 5786 (Diaspora)
10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayeilech is the 52nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. This page...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Sep 15, 20254 min read


D'var Torah for פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים / Parashat Nitzavim 5785 20 September 2025 / 27 Elul 5785
Parashat Nitzavim 5785 / פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים 20 September 2025 / 27 Elul 5785 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Nitzavim is the 51st...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Sep 9, 20253 min read


D'var Torah for כִּי־תָבוֹא / Ki Tavo 5785 13 September 2025 / 20 Elul 5785
10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Ki Tavo is the 50th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Deuteronomy...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Sep 4, 20253 min read
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