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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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This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 25, 2021): "Parashat Shemot" 5782
https://youtu.be/4owMAopbkKM Parashat Shemot 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת Read on 25 December 2021 / 21 Tevet 5782. Parashat Shemot is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 17, 20214 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 18, 2021): "Parashat Vayechi" 5782
https://youtu.be/GXev-CgmR80 Parashat Vayechi 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיְחִי Read on 18 December 2021 / 14 Tevet 5782. Parashat Vayechi is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 10, 20212 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 11, 2021): "Parashat Vayigash" 5782
https://youtu.be/jSZF_xn1t9Q Parashat Vayigash 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ Read on 11 December 2021 / 7 Tevet 5782. Parashat Vayigash is...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 5, 20212 min read


Jew vs. Jew
https://bariweiss.substack.com/p/jew-vs-jew On the real lessons of the Hanukkah story. Gabriel Katz Ask most American Jews what Hanukkah...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 29, 20217 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 4, 2021): "Parashat Miketz" 5782
https://youtu.be/3w58197A2_s Parashat Miketz 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ Read on 4 December 2021 / 30 Kislev 5782. Parashat Miketz is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 26, 20214 min read


Praying for the Government
The tradition of praying for the government reflects a recognition that Jewish welfare is bound up with that of the nations in which Jews...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 24, 20214 min read


Ana b’Koach: A Portal to Creation
This enigmatic poem recited almost precisely as Shabbat begins contains a hidden mystical meaning. BY DAVID GOTTLIEB Each week during the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 24, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (November 27, 2021): "Parashat Vayeshev" 5782
https://youtu.be/JNORgapn48o Parashat Vayeshev 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב Read on 27 November 2021 / 23 Kislev 5782. Parashat Vayeshev is...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 20, 20213 min read


S’lach Lanu: An Everyday Prayer for Forgiveness
There is a crucial difference between feeling ashamed of our shortcomings and feeling shame about our unworthiness. BY ADAM SOCLOF Though...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 15, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (November 20, 2021): "Parashat Vayishlach" 5782
https://youtu.be/eDZTZ7McT1U Parashat Vayishlach 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח Read on 20 November 2021 / 16 Kislev 5782. Parashat...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 12, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (November 13, 2021): "Parashat Vayetzei" 5782
https://youtu.be/TXBTjOEEFyQ Parashat Vayetzei 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּצֵא Read on 13 November 2021 / 9 Kislev 5782. Parashat Vayetzei is...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 5, 20214 min read


Why Do Jews Pray in the Plural?
Jewish liturgy is almost always written in the plural form. Here's why. BY SHARON WEISS-GREENBERG Hagar and Ishmael, having been banished...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 2, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (November 6, 2021): "Parashat Toldot" 5782
https://youtu.be/LutW8wUy4fo Parashat Toldot 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת תּוֹלְדוֹת Read on 6 November 2021 / 2 Kislev 5782. Parashat Toldot is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 26, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (October 30, 2021): "Parashah Chayei Sarah" 5782
https://youtu.be/ZWVaEbHxRcw Parashat Chayei Sara 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָֹרָה Read on 30 October 2021 / 24 Cheshvan 5782. Parashat...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 22, 20212 min read


Vayehi Binso’a Ha’aron: Two Aspects of Torah
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/vayehi-binsoa-haaron-two-aspects-of-torah/?utm_campaign=MJL_Prayer&utm_medium=email&utm_source=m...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 17, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (October 23, 2021): "Parashat Vayeira" 5782
https://youtu.be/qKiTzKSCS4w Parashat Vayera 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא Read on 23 October 2021 / 17 Cheshvan 5782. Parashat Vayera is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 15, 20213 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (October 16, 2021): "Parashat Lech Lecha" 5782
https://youtu.be/X12cn57ohqY Parashat Lech-Lecha 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת לֶךְ־לְךָ Read on 16 October 2021 / 10 Cheshvan 5782. Parashat...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 8, 20212 min read


Az Yashir: From Praise to Service
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/az-yashir-from-praise-to-service/?utm_campaign=MJL_Prayer&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mjl_maropo...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 6, 20213 min read


Re’eh: Seeking Divine Compassion in Times of Suffering
The seventh blessing of the Amidah asks God to see our suffering and redeem us from it. BY RABBI DANIELLE UPBIN The seventh blessing of...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 5, 20212 min read


El Maleh Rachamim: Recasting the Language of Loss
This haunting memorial prayer employs subtle nuances of language to gently invert the vocabulary of grief. BY MJL How to Say El Maleh...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Oct 5, 20213 min read
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