PARSHAS TETZAVEH – PURIM KATAN 5779
STAM TORAH PARSHAS TETZAVEH – PURIM KATAN 5779 “A BRAZEN CELEBRATION”[1] Arnie and Ethel were married for fifty-six years. Ethel finally convinced Arnie that fifty-five years after their honeymoon, it was time for him to take her on vacation for a few days. During their vacation, they ate lunch in a restaurant. When they got […]
PARSHAS TETZAVEH – PURIM KATAN 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh 10 Adar I 5779/February 15, 2019 This past weekend, our family enjoyed a wonderful Shabbos at my parent’s home in the Forshay section of Monsey. Shabbos morning was very cold, with a biting wind making it feel even colder. At about 7:20 am, I left […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 3 Adar I 5779/February 8, 2019 For all our technological innovations and uncanny advancements, there is still one thing we have absolutely no control over – the weather. Last week a polar vortex – whatever that is – enveloped much of the United States, bringing […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5779
STAM TORAH PARSHAS TERUMAH 5779 “PERSONAL INVESTMENT”[1] It’s literally the million-dollar question (perhaps more) that every organization, corporation, religious institution, and educational institution constantly grapples with: How can we get people to be more involved? In an article that appeared in the Atlantic in February 2018[2], it was reported that Amazon was offering its employees […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5779
STAM TORAH PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5779 “BRICKS OF SAPPHIRE”[1] In his Haggadah, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former chief rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, relates a personal story. One year on Pesach, he led a Seder for soldiers of the Israeli air force and their families. There were about one hundred and fifty men, women, and children, including […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar I 26 Shevat 5779/February 1, 2019 For years, the Tappan Zee Bridge connected Rockland and Westchester Counties. It was a very impressive structure, with much of the bridge being more like a highway just above the water. Towards the Westchester side, the […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 19 Shevat 5779/January 25, 2019 Joe McConnen was a husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, activist, and philanthropist. But above all, he was legendary as an absolutely diehard New York Giants fan. They said he bled (big) blue. He was obsessed with everything football and his schedule […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5779
STAM TORAH PARSHAS YISRO 5779 “THE DELICATE BALANCE”[1] One of the greatest English seforim I have read in the last few years was Mind Over Man, a collection of discourses from Rav Yechiel Perr, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Eisan in Far Rockaway, NY. The book is full of poignant and candid insights into human […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH/SHABBOS SHIRA 5779
STAM TORAH PARSHAS BESHALACH/SHABBOS SHIRA 5779 “SECRET OF SONG”[1] One of the goals of the Nazis was to break the Jewish spirit and to destroy all semblances of dignity. Dignity in response to attempted acts of physical and spiritual degradation was dramatically demonstrated in Lublin towards the end of 1939. The German commander, Glovoznik, had […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH/SHABBOS SHIRA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach 12 Shevat 5779/January 18, 2019 On Chol Hamoed Succos a few months ago, the Staum family attended a concert in Teaneck, NJ, featuring Mordechai Shapiro and the Yeshiva Boys Choir. It was a wonderful nice show and our children really enjoyed it. As we were taking […]