The Jewish Spark

The Jewish Spark The Jewish Spark is based on the philosophy of Ahavat Yisrael - unconditional love and concern for ev

“Joy gets bigger when there is someone else to share it with.”Tonight begins the holiday of Sukkot, the festival of joy....
09/25/2026

“Joy gets bigger when there is someone else to share it with.”

Tonight begins the holiday of Sukkot, the festival of joy. Naturally, joy wants to be shared. When we experience a joyous occasion, or milestone, we look for close ones to share it with. Sukkot, the holiday of joy, is meant for sharing with others. Tonight, and over the next 8 days, share the holiday joy, traditionally, with friends. Spend time in the Sukkah, connect with friends under the branches and revel in the joy, together.

Please light holiday candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib tonight at 6:54pm and tomorrow AFTER 7:50pm

“The greatest change may be simply remembering who you are.”The period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is known as t...
09/18/2026

“The greatest change may be simply remembering who you are.”

The period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is known as the “ten days of Teshuva,” repentance. The true definition of the word Teshuva is return. Essentially, our souls are always connected to G-d. Chassidic teachings explain that repentance is remembering who we are, where we came from, and returning to that place of truth.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 7:05pm

“When words run out, the soul still knows what to say.”Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah. A parable is told about a prince wh...
09/11/2026

“When words run out, the soul still knows what to say.”

Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah. A parable is told about a prince whose father, the king, sends him away to familiarize himself with the people of the land, and gather lessons he can only learn outside the palace walls. Over time, the prince becomes accustomed to life among the peasants. He loses his princely nature and royal sensitivities.
When he finally returns to the palace, he is unrecognizable, having even forgotten the appropriate way to communicate. Unable to get through the gates, he sits down and lets out a piercing cry.
His father recognizes the cry of his son. He comes out to embrace him and welcome him home.
Each of us is that prince. Our souls are sent into this physical world to accomplish things that can only be done here. But along the way, we become comfortable and accustomed to the ways of the land. Then Rosh Hashanah comes. We want to return to G-d, but after a year immersed in this world, we may be unrecognizable. So we blow the shofar, the cry from the depths of our soul that connects us to G-d on the deepest level.
The shofar is the piercing cry that comes forth when nothing else can. Be there this Sunday to hear it, experience it, reconnect with G-d, and receive the blessings we need for the year ahead.

Please light holiday candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib tonight at 7:17pm and tomorrow Shabbat AFTER 8:14pm. RH ends at 8:12pm on Sunday evening.

We have room for you! Join us this year and make sure to hear the shofar on Sunday!! We have two opportunities!!! Sunday...
09/11/2026

We have room for you! Join us this year and make sure to hear the shofar on Sunday!! We have two opportunities!!! Sunday at 11am or 5pm. Shannah Tova Umetukah!!

So excited for this Spark Shuk Communtiy event! Come support your local vendors and enjoy a fun afternoon of good food, ...
08/30/2026

So excited for this Spark Shuk Communtiy event! Come support your local vendors and enjoy a fun afternoon of good food, good vibes and fun activities! Thank you stand with us for co- sponsoring this event! RSVP for address
https://jewishpopupmarket.planningpod.com
Weather is looking fab!!

“Sometimes the difference between distance and closeness is who takes the first step.”Today is the first day of the Hebr...
08/14/2026

“Sometimes the difference between distance and closeness is who takes the first step.”

Today is the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul. It is the final month of the year and the month preceding Rosh Hashanah.
There is a beautiful parable about the month of Elul that describes a king who comes out to the field and makes himself available to all his subjects, giving them the opportunity to come and ask for whatever it is they may need.
G-d is the King in this parable, making Himself more accessible to us during this time of year. The invitation is open to us, but it is up to us to approach Him.
As we enter this month and prepare ourselves for the new year, let’s take that step and approach G-d. And may all our prayers be answered.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 8pm

“The hand that opens for another becomes open enough to receive blessings of its own.”This week’s Torah portion discusse...
08/07/2026

“The hand that opens for another becomes open enough to receive blessings of its own.”

This week’s Torah portion discusses the mitzvah of tzedakah - charity. The Torah tells us that when we act generously toward another person, G-d blesses us in return.
But the Chassidic understanding goes much deeper. In Tanya, the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, explains that our acts of kindness below awaken the Divine attribute of kindness Above. When we open our hands and hearts to another person, we open channels for G-d’s blessings to flow into the world.
This is not a transaction, as if we are giving in order to receive. Rather, our actions below mirror the way G-d relates to us Above. When we become a source of kindness and blessing for someone else, we create a vessel to receive G-d’s kindness in our own lives.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 8:09pm

“The greatest reward for doing a Mitzvah is who you become.”At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, the Torah tel...
07/31/2026

“The greatest reward for doing a Mitzvah is who you become.”

At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, the Torah tells us that if we fulfill the mitzvot G-d has commanded us, we will be rewarded. Chassidic teachings explain that beyond the physical blessings G-d grants us for fulfilling His mitzvot, the greatest reward is the connection to Hashem that every mitzvah creates. Every mitzvah we perform strengthens our bond with Him, and makes us a greater vessel for G-dliness. With each mitzvah, our soul becomes more deeply connected to its Source, transforming us into a dwelling place for G-d’s presence in this world.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 8:17pm

“Comfort is the courage to trust that the story is bigger than the chapter you’re in.”This Shabbat, the one following th...
07/24/2026

“Comfort is the courage to trust that the story is bigger than the chapter you’re in.”

This Shabbat, the one following the fast of Tisha B’Av, is known as Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort. The Haftarah read each year on this Shabbat contains Isaiah’s prophecies of the ultimate redemption. Immediately after the saddest day of the year, while the pain is still fresh, G-d offers us comfort. G-d knows the entire story; we are only familiar with the chapter we are living right now. The sequence of comfort immediately following the pain reminds us that there is a bigger story and a higher purpose behind it all. We find comfort when we trust the plan and recognize that even the lowest moments, though beyond our understanding, are there for a reason greater than we can comprehend.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 8:24pm.

“Exile begins when we stop seeing G-d. Redemption begins when we see He never left.”This Thursday is Tisha Bav, a fast d...
07/17/2026

“Exile begins when we stop seeing G-d. Redemption begins when we see He never left.”

This Thursday is Tisha Bav, a fast day mourning the destruction of the holy temple and the beginning of this exile that has stretched on for over 2 millennia.
Although, at times, exile can feel like G-d has abandoned us, the truth is, it is the concealment of G-d. If G-d is indeed here, and hidden, it is in our power to reveal him. Every good deed, every mitzvah that we do peels away at another layer of spiritual concealment.
May we strip away at all these layers even before Tisha Bav comes around and reveal G-d in His entirety, so that we can celebrate the final redemption together, in Jerusalem.

Please light Shabbat candles in memory of Chana bat Yehuda Leib at 8:29pm

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