Rabbi, my husband isn’t Jewish. Shouldn’t we give our children a little of each religion and let them decide later on? On the surface, this seems fair and balanced. Why not expose children to everything and let them choose? Judaism is not a flavor or a hobby. It’s not something to sprinkle lightly into life, alongside other options. Judaism is our very identity, our essence. A Jewish soul doesn’t “become” Jewish when it decides; it is Jewish from birth. To give Judaism as a watered-down sample, as just one of many options, is to hide its true nature. We see this by giving a boy a bris at 8 days (the earliest safe time to perform a bris). Even before a child understands anything, we create an irreversible covenant. This shows that, from the very first moment, their Jewish identity is who they are. Not “lite,” not half-measure, not postponed for later. Children need to know that being Jewish means belonging to a people whose bond with G-d is not limited by nature or logic. This identity is planted deep when they’re young, and it lasts forever. One would not give their child “a little bit” of food and say, “When you’re older, you can decide if you want a full meal.” A child needs proper nourishment from the very beginning to grow strong and healthy. If something is life itself, you give it as it is. Judaism is life. This doesn’t mean being harsh or heavy-handed, G-d forbid. It means being real. Show your child the beauty of Shabbos candles, the warmth of a Seder table, the joy of a sukkah, and the pride of saying Shema at night. These are not just rituals; they are encounters with G-d that shape a soul for a lifetime. To give a child “a taste” of Judaism is like feeding them watered-down nourishment. It may fill them for the moment, but it won’t strengthen their Jewish soul. Give them the real thing. Proud, authentic, relevant, vibrant Judaism. That’s what will carry them, guide them, and give them true strength in life. Have an amazing Shabbos, Rabbi Kushi Schusterman P.S. This applies to all Jewish children, and to ourselves. Don’t sell yourself short; give yourself authentic Judaism, regardless of your age. Incorporate one new mitzvah in your life, and once you get comfortable with it, add another one.
Rabbi's Blog
Free Samples Work for Ice Cream • Not for Jewish Identity
Overwhelmed by Good Things?
Life is busy. We often speak about being overwhelmed by material concerns; family, work, finances, or politics. There is another kind of overwhelm, subtler yet just as real: being flooded with spirituality and communal responsibility.
What happens when helping others, even in the name of holiness, begins to drain us? How do I know if I am truly serving G-d or simply turning mitzvah-work into another job title?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches that the answer to both kinds of overwhelm is the same: anchor yourself in Torah and prayer. Begin your day with Modeh Ani before your feet hit the ground. The Rebbe designated this simple prayer as his favorite, pointing out that its message is: G-d has a lot of faith in us, because He gave us another day of life even though He didn’t have to.
Before you plunge into the floodwaters of daily life, declare: My entire being comes from G-d, Who returned my soul this morning. The same G-d Who gave me Torah is giving me the strength to navigate today. The Rebbe emphasized that when we feel internal pressure, anxiety or ‘flooded by tasks’, the remedy is not simply better organization but returning to Torah and mitzvah observance.
If what I do strengthens my Torah observance and my relationship with Hashem, it is holy work. If it chips away at my prayer, study, or mitzvah-observance, it is not true service. It is mis-directed energy, even if cloaked in spirituality.
Take a personal example: I am both a rabbi and a father. From time to time, I get a call to visit someone in need. However, I cannot visit on Shabbos. In addition, I cannot allow communal duties to cancel my personal responsibility to pray, study Torah, or be present for my children and family.
If rushing to “save the world” means I skip my prayers or Torah study, then it’s not actually G-dly. If I do ensure that my observance remains intact; that I pray and study with intention and that my family responsibilities are honored, then that visit is true chesed, kindness.
The Rebbe taught that Torah study and proper prayer are our lifeboats, our personal Noah’s Ark, protecting us not only from the waters of materialism but also from the floods of well-intentioned but mis-directed spiritual activity.
Have a calm Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
A calm Shabbos = A calm year
“The way one sets oneself on Shabbos Bereishis determines the tone for the entire year.” – the chassidic masters
At first glance, it seems puzzling. What is special about this Shabbos, when we read Bereishis in particular?
Because Shabbos Bereishis, when we read the story of creation, reminds us of the foundation for all of life and all of our service throughout the year. It teaches us that the world is not a separate, independent reality; its entire existence is because Hashem is creating it.
Imagine running a small business: bills are due, payroll is coming up, and sales are slow. The normal and natural reaction is stress, maybe even panic. The evil inclination whispers to you: maybe you need to cut corners (something unethical?), work nonstop (no time for family?), and forget about Shabbos or Torah study until things calm down.
Chassidic teachings explain that “In the beginning G-d created” indicates that Hashem created the heavens and the earth from absolute nothingness. This act of creation is not a one-time event but continuous; every moment the world is being recreated through Hashem’s word (see Tanya). Thus, the very existence of the world is nothing but Divine speech sustaining it.
With this Shabbos Bereishis perspective: if the entire existence of the world is Hashem’s word, then my success isn’t only about hustle or luck—it flows from Hashem Himself. That doesn’t mean I sit back and do nothing. I still need to put in effort. But it means my effort is guided by trust in Hashem, not fear of the unknown. When one internalizes this (not an easy feat!), even mundane activities can be filled with holiness; saying a verse of Psalms, learning a Torah thought while walking down the street (daily study app), or doing a good deed that tips the world toward merit.
So instead of doing something unethical or breaking Shabbos to finish a deal, we close shop early, light Shabbos candles with family, and remember Who really sustains our business. That mindset itself brings calm, removes the crushing anxiety, and often opens the channel for blessing in ways we can’t predict.
In other words: Shabbos Bereishis teaches that the world is not against us; the world is sustained by Hashem for us. And when we live with that, we find the strength to make better choices, to stay calm in challenges, and to see more revealed goodness in our lives.
To rewrite the adage: if we set ourselves up to recognize that everything is a result of Hashem’s creation, and that everything in our spiritual life and all our material needs are in Hashem’s hands, this sets the tone for the entire year to be one of calmness and connection with Hashem.
Have a calm, good Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
⚠️ Wait! The High Holydays Aren’t Over Yet…🔔
Don’t miss the real High Holydays!
Wait a second, didn’t we just finish Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Should we already be preparing for 2026?
Well, yes and no. (Go ahead and mark your calendar: Rosh Hashanah 2026 is Friday night, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, and Yom Kippur 2026 is Sunday night, September 20 - Monday the 21st.)
But the truth is, the High Holydays aren’t over yet.
Most people think they begin and end with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But dare I say, the real High Holydays are Sukkos and Simchas Torah.
On Rosh Hashanah, we crown Hashem as King, recognizing His sovereignty as the true force in the world.
On Yom Kippur, we reveal the deepest essence of our souls, reconnecting with who we truly are.
However, all of that remains lofty, spiritual.
Enter Sukkos, where the inspiration comes down to earth. We don’t just keep G-d in our prayers; we invite Him into our homes, our meals, our celebrations. We eat, laugh, and live inside the sukkah, bringing holiness into the very fabric of daily life.
And then comes Simchat Torah, the celebration of ultimate joy. It’s not just about what we believe, but about who we are at our core. On this day we recognize that our relationship with Hashem is not an add on to life, not a layer sitting on top of our identity, it is our very essence. The bond is so strong, so real, that it defines us completely. That’s why we allow ourselves to dance with abandon, openly and with unity, celebrating not only the Torah but the truth of who we are. This is the culmination and essence of the High Holidays: the moment we don’t just experience holiness, we become it.
Think of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as reconciling who we are and Sukkos and Simchas Torah celebrate it.
So don’t stop at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Join us for Sukkos Services, the Sukkah Open House (with a special kid’s program!), Torah Studies in the Barnett’s Sukkah, Yizkor Service and Simchas Torah Hakafos Party and the finishing of reading the Torah, rolling it back to the beginning, and celebrating with more dancing and joy.
These are true High Holiday moments. You don’t want to miss them. Join us as we celebrate who we are.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman