Parshas Kedoshim 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Kedoshim 2 Iyar 5784/ May 10, 2024 – 17th day of the Omer Pirkei Avos – Perek 2 EVERY DROP It’s a classic and beloved story. A forty-year-old shepherd viewed himself as a complete failure. Completely ignorant of Torah knowledge, Akiva didn’t even know how […]
Parshas Achrei Mos 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Achrei Mos – Mevorchim Chodesh Iyar 25 Nissan 5784May 3, 2024 – 10th day of the Omer Pirkei Avos – Perek 1 JOY OF JOYOUSNESS On the afternoon of the seventh day of Pesach I realized that in Eretz Yisroel Pesach was over and […]
Parshas Metzora 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Metzora/Shabbos HaGadol 11 Nissan 5784/ April 19, 2024 THE PROCESS (With the exception of my brief introduction, the ideas in this essay were adapted from a lecture about the Haggadah by Rabbi David Lapin.) My first position in chinuch was as the Social […]
Parshas Tazria 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tazria 4 Nissan 5784/ April 12, 2024 This week’s Musings is lovingly dedicated in memory of my Sabbah, Mr. Abe Staum, R’ Avrohom Yosef ben R’ Naftali Herz haLevi z”l, upon his yahrtzeit tonight, 4 Nissan. WHAT WAS WON’T BE There have been some […]
Parshas Shemini 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemini/HaChodesh Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan 26 Adar II 5784/ April 5, 2024 TIMES LIKE THESE We live in crazy times. I don’t think anyone will argue with that. But I recently realized that I don’t ever remember a period in my life when people didn’t […]
Parshas Tzav 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tzav/Parah 19 Adar II 5784/ March 29, 2024 SWEET WINE Recently, one of our neighbors joined us for a Shabbos Seudah. The neighbor appreciates fine wine and gave us a bottle as a gift. It’s always a bit uncomfortable for me when I’m gifted […]
Parshas Vayikra 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra-Zachor 12 Adar II 5784/ March 22, 2024 OFF HIS HIGH HORSE A friend who is a dentist gives mishloach manos full of huge cavity-inducing candies… and a business card. In truth, there is more of a connection between rotted teeth and Purim […]
Parshas Pekudei 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pekudei 5 Adar II 5784/ March 15, 2024 PUNCTUATED SALVATION Is it possible that our English teacher was right (or correct)? Could it be that punctuation really does make a difference in life and, in fact, could save lives? Many […]
Parshas Vayakhel 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel 28 Adar I 5784/ March 9, 2024 Mevorchim Chodesh Adar II – Shekalim EMOTIONAL EXTENSION CORDS Doing construction is exciting and simultaneously exceedingly frustrating and trying on one’s patience. One of the things I remember most about when we did construction was myriad […]
Parshas Ki Sisa 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa 21 Adar I 5784/ March 2, 2024 MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE In a recent edition of her daily WhatsApp, Sivan Rahav-Meir, disseminated the following: “Kama Hochman is a 7-year-old girl who lives in Bnei Netzarim, a charming little moshav in southern Israel. Her […]