TAKE A CHILL

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Netzovim            26 Elul 5785/September 19, 2025 Rosh Hashanah 5786 TAKE A CHILL “It was the best of jobs; it was the worst of jobs. It was the epoch of tranquility; it was the epoch of disunity. It was the season of warmth; it was the season […]

SWAG MERCH

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Ki Savo            17 Elul 5785/September 12, 2025 SWAG MERCH So what’s with the swag? Wherever you go these days people seem to be very into swag. The term “swag” originated in hip-hop culture, but it has entered mainstream lingo. It refers to clothing and accessories that […]

THE SHORT LONG ROAD

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Ki Setzei            12 Elul 5785/September 5, 2025 THE SHORT LONG ROAD One night this past summer, Camp Dora Golding went on a trip to a water park. Being that the waterpark was not that far from camp, I drove there with my sons, instead of going […]

FAN OR NO FAN

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Shoftim            6 Elul 5785/August 29, 2025 FAN OR NO FAN One afternoon this week while driving my car, as soon as I stopped at a red light, the air conditioning began blowing hot air. It was a hot day, and the air conditioning was on at […]

IN LIFE AND BEYOND

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Re’eh – Mevorchim Chodesh Elul            28 Menachem Av 5785/August 22, 2025 IN LIFE AND BEYOND It’s ironic but, as an eighth grader, I did not want to attend Yeshiva Shaarei Torah. My older brother was there, and my parents felt it would be a good fit […]

“COLORFUL BLISS”

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Eikev            21 Menachem Av 5785/August 15, 2025 COLORFUL BLISS Summer camp is a place of smiles, fun, excitement, joy, friendship, sunshine, creativity, adventures, and more. But for many camp is also about life transformation. Camp had a profound effect upon their life decisions and trajectory. What […]

SPIRITUALLY UNSATISFIED

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Veschanan/Nachamu            14 Menachem Av 5785/August 8, 2025 SPIRITUALLY UNSATISFIED In Camp Dora Golding we invest a lot of time and effort to develop a Tisha b’Av morning program that will inspire our campers and hopefully resonate with them. As is the practice in many shuls and […]

ROTTING ROYALLY

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Devorim/Chazon            7 Menachem Av 5785/August 1, 2025 ROTTING ROYALLY Shortly after we arrived here in camp a few weeks ago, I opened one of our kitchen cabinets and an odious smell wafted from it. I quickly closed it, hoping it was my imagination. But a few […]

NO DISTRACTIONS

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Matos-Masei            29 Tamuz 5785/July 25, 2025 Avos perek 2 – Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av NO DISTRACTIONS One morning a few weeks ago, I was davening shachris in a local shul. I was in the middle of pesukei d’zimrah when a fellow approached me and said […]

HEAR ME NOW

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Pinchos            22 Tamuz 5785/July 18, 2025 Avos perek 1 – Mevorchim Chodesh Menachem Av HEAR ME NOW Last week, I received the following voice-note from my dear talmid, Abie Jacoby: “Hi Rebbe – Crazy story…. So last night, I was chilling with my campers on the […]