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 […]
IT JUST SO HAPPENED
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Balak 15 Tamuz 5785/July 11, 2025 Avos perek 6 IT JUST SO HAPPENED In my youth I read a series of books about a protagonist hero who always saved the day in the nick of time. Despite the many enemies who wanted to destroy him, somehow, […]
THE REST OF THE STORY
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Chukas 8 Tamuz 5785/July 4, 2025 Avos perek 5 THE REST OF THE STORY At some point of the school year while teaching Gemara, I tell my students about Paul Harvey. Paul Harvey was a famous radio broadcaster. He had a unique presentation of news segments […]
PASS THE EGGPLANT
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Korach 1 Tamuz 5785/June 27, 2025 Avos perek 4 Rosh Chodesh Tamuz Dedicated in loving memory of my Bubby, Fruma bas Lieber, upon her yahrtzeit, 30 Sivan, 1 Rosh Chodesh Tamuz. PASS THE EGGPLANT Before I became the perfect person I am today, I was a […]