CELESTIAL INVITATION
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel/Parah 21 Adar 5785/ March 21, 2025 CELESTIAL INVITATION This week I brought an invitation to my father-in-law for our daughter Aviva’s wedding in a few weeks. It was quite an emotionally draining experience. The wind was howling as I stood in front of his kever in […]
MATH WOES
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa/PURIM 14 Adar 5785/ March 14, 2025 MATH WOES For some people March 14 is an exciting day because 3-14 is pi day. Personally, I’ve never been much of a numbers guy. You can ask my mother or any of my teachers in school. I probably […]
REPRESENTATION TAXATION
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh/Zachor 8 Adar 5785/ March 7, 2025 REPRESENTATION TAXATION One of the beloved aspects of Purim for children is the universal custom to bang and make a ruckus when the name of Haman is mentioned. Normally, in shul we are bidden to act with utmost discipline and […]
SMALL GIFTS
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 Adar 5785/ February 28, 2025 SMALL GIFTS During the last few days, I’ve been thinking about some of the wonderful things in my life that I take for granted: What prompted my newfound appreciation for these routine gifts of life? It […]
And One
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar 23 Shevat 5785/ February 21, 2025 AND ONE Anyone who attended Camp Torah Voda’as or Camp Dora Golding when Rabbi Yitzy Erps was the night activity director will likely never forget how he announced the night activity. During supper each weeknight of camp, […]
Re-Repeat
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 16 Shevat 5785/ February 14, 2025 RE-REPEAT This past week, the Super Bowl featured the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles. There was even more hype than the usual Super Bowl excitement because the Chiefs were looking to become the first team to win a […]
Spared Blessing
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach – Shabbos Shirah 5785 9 Shevat 5785/ February 7, 2025 SPARED BLESSING A few years ago, my dear friend Rabbi Naftali Eisgrau shared with me the following anecdote: Rabbi Eisgrau’s father-in-law is the late Rabbi Avi Shulman. Rabbi Shulman, who insisted on always being called Mr. […]
Drip Drip
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera 5785 23 Teves 5785/ January 23, 2025 Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat DRIP DRIP Our plumber, Menashe, is a wonderful guy. He’s the type of person I am happy to meet almost anywhere – a wedding, parent teacher conference (some of our children attend the same schools), or […]
Present Demands
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera 5785 23 Teves 5785/ January 23, 2025 Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat PRESENT DEMANDS Making a simcha of any kind – b’ris, bar or bas mitzvah, a vort and of course a wedding – is always a blessing. It’s a blessing that inevitably carries with it some level […]
Which Direction
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos 5785 17 Teves 5785/ January 17, 2025 WHICH DIRECTION For the first three and a half months after we got married my wife and I lived in Flatbush while my wife finished a one-year post-seminary program there. Despite the fact that we are not native Brokklynites, […]