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 […]
ALONE NOT LONELY
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Shelach 23 Sivan 5785/June 20, 2025 Avos perek 3 Mevorchim Chodesh Tamuz ALONE NOT LONELY Thankfully now, a few years after the Covid Pandemic, most of the rigid and austere limitations are behind us. During that harrowing time, new concepts and mandates crept into our daily vernacular, […]
WHEN THE LIGHTS DIM
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Beha’aloscha 17 Sivan 5785/June 13, 2025 Avos perek 2 WHEN THE LIGHTS DIM At the end of our daughter’s chasunah a few weeks ago, our family met downstairs in the Kallah’s room. After gathering their things, we said goodbye to the Chosson and Kallah and they […]
PENNY FOR YOUR PENNY
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Bamidbar, Erev Shavuos 4 Sivan 5779/June 7, 2019 Avos perek 6 – 48sh day of the Omer PENNY FOR YOUR PENNY I once heard the following observation – if someone tells you “A penny for your thoughts” and you stick in your two cents, do you […]