Parshas Bo 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 9 Shevat 5784/ January 19, 2024 COME AND LISTEN It’s been said that the only one who hears both sides of an argument is the next door neighbor. When I was a social work student at Fordham University, I mostly kept my opinions to […]
Parshas Vaeira 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera 2 Shevat 5784/ January 12, 2024 UNABASHEDLY Recently, I attended a Sheva Berachos at which the mother of the Kallah spoke. She expressed her tremendous feelings of gratitude to her family and friends and extolled the virtues of her daughter the Kallah and new […]
Parshas Shemos 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos – Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat 24 Teves 5784/ January 5, 2024 TIME AND PLACE On a Shabbos morning in 1990, I was walking to shul with my father and a neighbor. My father and my neighbor were discussing how comprehensive the newly published Artscroll Mishnayos […]
Parshas Vayechi 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi – Shabbos Chazak! 17 Teves 5784/ December 29, 2023 KEEPING WARM Winter means different things to different people. For those living further south, it’s time to enjoy the sun without it being too hot. But for the majority of us living further north, […]
Parshas Vayigash 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayigash – Asarah b’Teves 10 Teves 5784/ December 22, 2023 LIFE’S CLIFFHANGERS One of the great techniques of drama is to use a cliffhanger. When the power of suspense is harnessed, it ensures that the reader/viewer will stay tuned to find out what happens next. […]
Parshas Mikeitz 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz – Zos Chanukah 3 Teves 5784/ December 15, 2023 MISSION FOR LIFE On Thursday mornings I have a weekly phone conversation with our older son Shalom, who is learning in Eretz Yisroel. Often our conversation centers on the parsha. Recently he asked me why […]
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 Vayishlach 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayishlach 18 Kislev 5784/ December 1, 2023 CONCEALED LIGHT Not far from our home in Monsey/Spring Valley is the Jewish cemetery where many great tzaddikim are buried. There is an enclosed area, where, most notably, is the kever of the Ribnitzer Rebbe. In the vicinity are the […]
Parshas Vayeitzei 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayetzei 11 Kislev 5784/November 24, 2023 FEEL IT It’s part of the paradox of our times. The more comfort, amenities, and conveniences we have, the more anxious and depressed we seem to become. Despite all our technological advancements, we are unable to predict or […]
Parshas Toldos 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos 4 Kislev 5784/November 17, 2023 SURPRISE SHOWER During a Tuesday evening a few weeks ago, one of our younger sons asked me to turn the shower on for him. Being that the first burst of water is cold water, he wanted the water […]