top of page

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
Search


Kedushah: Praising God Like Angels
This prayer recited during the Amidah is a bit of an outlier in the liturgy. BY RABBI ARIELLA ROSEN I have distinct memories of being in...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 27, 20213 min read


Happy Tu B'Shevat
https://shoutout.wix.com/so/bbNT1lCqG?languageTag=en

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 27, 20211 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 30, 2021): "Parashat Beshalach" 5781
Parashat Beshalach 5781 Parashat Beshalach / פרשת בְּשַׁלַּח Read in the Diaspora on 30 January 2021 (17 Sh'vat 5781). Parashat Beshalach...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 24, 20212 min read


Birkot Hashachar: Giving Thanks Each Morning
This series of blessings are a beautiful expression of gratitude for the opportunity of experiencing another day. BY CANTOR MATT AXELROD...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 20, 20214 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 23, 2021): "Parashat Bo" 5781
Parashat Bo 5781 Parashat Bo / פרשת בֹּא Read in the Diaspora on 23 January 2021 (10 Sh'vat 5781). Parashat Bo is the 15th weekly Torah...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 17, 20213 min read


Kippot (Head Coverings) in Synagogue
Changing trends in the use or non-use of a head covering in synagogue has been an indicator of changing relations with the surrounding...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 13, 20212 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 16, 2021): "Parashat Vaera" 5781
Parashat Vaera 5781 Parashat Vaera / פרשת וָאֵרָא Read in the Diaspora on 16 January 2021 (3 Sh'vat 5781). Parashat Vaera is the 14th...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 11, 20212 min read


Background About The Talmud
Challenging received tradition. BY SARAH WOLF The rabbis of the Talmud place themselves into two broad generational categories. The...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 5, 20211 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 9, 2021): "Parashat Shemot" 5781
Parashat Shemot https://youtu.be/gxpZsZkfras Parashat Shemot / פרשת שְׁמוֹת Read in the Diaspora on 9 January 2021 (25 Tevet 5781)....

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Jan 3, 20213 min read


Kiddush: Holding the Divine Presence in Our Hands
Jewish mysticism sees the sanctification of wine as a spiritual practice to manifest God's presence in the world. BY JOEL HECKER Candle...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 30, 20203 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 2, 2021): "Parashat VaYechi" 5781
Parashat VaYechi 5781 Parashat Vayechi / פרשת וַיְחִי Read in the Diaspora on 2 January 2021 (18 Tevet 5781). Parashat Vayechi is the...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 27, 20202 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 26, 2020): "Parashat Vayigosh" 5781
Parashat Vayigosh 5781

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 21, 20201 min read


Asher Yatzar: Giving Thanks for Bodily Imperfections
Even when we aren’t perfectly well, our bodies are still doing countless amazing things. BY RABBI PAULA ROSE The functioning of our...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 16, 20203 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 19, 2020): "Parashat Miketz" 5781
https://youtu.be/MpRF5yIi7N0 Parashat Miketz / פרשת מִקֵּץ Read in the Diaspora on 19 December 2020 (4 Tevet 5781). Parashat Miketz is...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 13, 20202 min read


Aleinu: A Call to Divine Service
This prayer calls on us to discover where the brokenness of the world overlaps with our particular human gifts. BY RABBI TIFERET...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 10, 20204 min read


Saturday Morning Services December 5, 2020
Shabbat Vayyishlach Morning Services with Rabbi Stephen 12 05 2020 Shabbat service Rabbi Stephen 12 05 2020 Shabbat service share screen

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 6, 20201 min read


Last Friday's Ma'ariv Service
Kabbalat Shabbat Vayyishlach Friday Evening Services with Rabbi Stephen 12 4 2020 Erev Shabbat Friday Rabbi

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 6, 20201 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 12, 2020): "Parashat Vayeshev" 5781
https://youtu.be/NDhhOSZoXaE Parashat Vayeshev / פרשת וַיֵּשֶׁב Read in the Diaspora on 12 December 2020 (26 Kislev 5781). Parashat...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 6, 20203 min read


The Majesty of Adon Olam BY CANTOR MATT AXELROD
Can a prayer be too familiar? Adon Olam is an emotional and poetic masterpiece that is essentially hiding in plain sight. Many Jews are...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Dec 2, 20203 min read


This week's 10-Minute Torah (December 5, 2020): "Parashat Vayishlach" 5781
Parashat Vayishlach 5781 https://youtu.be/hX5-_dP3Y4A Parashat Vayishlach / פרשת וַיִּשְׁלַח Read in the Diaspora on 5 December 2020 (19...

Rabbi Stephen Epstein
Nov 30, 20202 min read
bottom of page

























