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IGNITED FOREVER

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayigash 5786            6 Teves 5786/December 26, 2025 IGNITED FOREVER In 1833, Lord Alfred Tennyson lost his closest friend Arthur Henry Hallam when the 22-year-old Hallam died suddenly. Hallam’s death shattered Tennyson’s world. 
In a famous poem entitled, In Memoriam A. H. H., Tennyson wrote: “I hold it true, […]

TRUE BLISS

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Miketz 5786 Shabbos Chanukah – Rosh Chodesh Teves            29 Kislev 5786/December 19, 2025 TRUE BLISS To be honest I never heard of Charlie Kirk until he was tragically murdered. But I have now learned that he was a staunch defender of moral values and of Israel. […]

Chanukah

CHANUKAH Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the parsha? Rabbi Dani Staum stamtorah@gmail.com KEY to CHANUKAH Pix Rock – In the beloved song we sing after lighting Chanukah candles we refer to Hashem as “מעוז צור ישועתי – Mighty Rock of my salvation” Roses – In the paragraph of Maoz […]

Parshas Vayeishev, Shabbos Chanukah, Shabbos Mevorchim 5784

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeshev 25 Kislev 5784/ December 8, 2023 Mevorchim Chodesh Teves BE AND FEEL A former colleague who is a wonderful educator would address his students each day before the students began afternoon classes. For a while he would end each day’s announcements by bidding the […]

PARSHAS MIKETZ/CHANUKAH 5780

STAM TORAH PARSHAS MIKETZ/CHANUKAH 5780 “ON ME!”[1] In his book, Echoes of the Maggid, Rabbi Paysach Krohn recounts the story of a fourteen-year-old girl named Esther Haas who was forced on one of the Nazi’s infamous death marches. Beaten, overworked, and malnourished from the time spent in the Concentration Camp, she was feeble, and her […]

PARSHAS MIKETZ/CHANUKAH 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Miketz/Shabbos Chanukah/Rosh Chodesh Teves 29 Kislev – 5th day of Chanukah 5780/December 27, 2019 ABSORBED & RADIATED             It’s one of those things that makes you wonder. During the winter there can be days of resplendent sunshine, without a cloud in the sky, and yet it will […]

Parshas Miketz Shabbos Chanukah- Rosh Chodesh Teves

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz Shabbos Chanukah- Rosh Chodesh Teves   29 Kislev 5779/December 7, 2018 Last week, I had the pleasure of spending Shabbos in Chicago. I was invited to deliver a parenting lecture on Motzei Shabbos for the Associated Talmud Torahs (ATT), and in order to do so I […]