PARSHAS MIKETZ – CHANUKAH 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz – Rosh Chodesh Teves 6 Chanukah 29 Kiselv 5776/ December 11, 2015 I wear various hats, albeit not at once. A few weeks ago, they all merged, although thankfully they did not collide. After Shabbos when I wear my “Rabbi hat” (it’s one of the […]
PARSHAS MIKETZ – CHANUKAH 5776
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS MIKETZ – CHANUKAH 5776 “ROCK OF ISRAEL” The following is part of the text of the Oxford Chabad Society Joseph Graham Memorial Lecture, given by Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau[1], at St Annes College, on 7 May, 2006: “I was privileged once to meet David Ben Gurion, the […]
PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5776
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5776 “STILL FIGHTING” In 1944, as the Nazi’s realized that their defeat was imminent, they escalated their barbaric efforts to eradicate as many Jews as they could. It was during that time that Hungarian Jewry was systematically transported to the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp for […]
PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeshev 22 Kiselv 5776/ December 4, 2015 I am blessed to be close with many great Torah scholars who I consider personal rabbeim and/or mentors. One of those individuals is a respected educator who inspires his students in his uniquely skillful and devoted manner. He also […]
PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5776
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5776 “ON GUARD” Rabbi Paysach Krohn relates a beautiful story[1] about a Jerusalem Jew named Yosef Gutfarb who was extremely meticulous to always pray with a minyan. Even the worst weather could not deter Yosef, and he was invariably one of the first people to […]
PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayishlach 15 Kiselv 5776/ November 27, 2015 At our Shabbos table each week, I try to ask our children a challenging question based on the parsha, for a cash reward. This past Shabbos the question was: in what way is the structure of Parshas Vayetzei unique? […]
PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayetzei 8 Kiselv 5776/ November 20, 2015 Growing up there was hardly anything more exciting that receiving a package in the mail. You would open the package and admiringly look at the contents which you have long waited for. Then you put aside the contents and […]
PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5776
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5776 “THE OWNER OF MONTICELLO” A few years ago, Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein[1] related the following personal extraordinary story: “There was a popular pool-hall on the main street in Monticello that had a dance club in the back. It was a terribly sinful place where kids went […]
PARSHAS TOLDOS 5776
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS TOLDOS 5776 “SPIRITUAL VITALITY”[1] Years ago, when I was a student in Yeshiva, I was conversing with a younger student who had decided to switch out of the yeshiva, and to attend a different type of yeshiva. He told me how thrilled he was to be […]
PARSHAS TOLDOS 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5776/ November 13, 2015 In Ashar I have the privilege to be the fifth grade Rebbe and to serve as School Guidance Counselor. My office shares a wall with the office of the nurse, Nurse Trish. I hung a sign in between […]