Parshas Vayeira 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayera 17 Cheshvan 5780/November 15, 2019 This week’s Musings are lovingly dedicated in memory of my Savta, Mrs. Minnie Staum a”h, Shprintza bas Avrohom Yitzchok whose yahrtzeit is on Friday, 17 Cheshvan. PARENTAL NACHAS A few weeks ago our family celebrated the upsherin (first […]
PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Lech Lecha 10 Cheshvan 5780/November 8, 2019 Last week, Air Canada announced that flights attendants will no longer be addressing passengers as “ladies and gentlemen”[1]. They claim that the move is being made to respect “identity, diversity, and inclusion”. From now on passengers will […]
Noach 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Noach 3 Cheshvan 5780/November 1, 2019 “PERSEVERANCE” I really wanted the Houston Astros to lose the World Series! It wasn’t simply because I’m a disgruntled and resentful Yankees fan, and wanted to see the team that ousted the Yankees get beaten (though that may have […]
BEREISHIS 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Bereishis 25 Tishrei 5780/October 26, 2019 Mevorchim Chodesh Cheshvan “GOTTA HAVE HEART” What a beautiful Yom Tov season. I can’t believe how much I’ve grown in these last few weeks. Now I have the whole winter to try to undo all that growth. Well, […]
SUCCOS 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Succos – Z’man Simchaseinu 14 Tishrei 5780/October 13, 2019 Last week, for Shabbos Shuva, the ninth graders and Bais Medrash of our yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah, enjoyed a special shabbaton (the rest of the yeshiva had a shabbaton a few weeks prior). The shabbaton was held on the grounds […]
YOM KIPPUR 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5780/October 8, 2019 A couple of weeks ago, on a Thursday evening, our oldest child, Shalom, felt some pain on his arm. It was then that he noticed a small mark – presumably a bug bite – with redness surrounding it. When he showed […]
ROSH HASHANAH 5780
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Netzovim 27 Elul 5779/September 27, 2019 – Avos perakim 5-6 Although we may not want to admit it, there are certain berachos of Shemone Esrei that seem to resonate with us more deeply than others. The berachos in which we ask Hashem for health, livelihood, […]
PARSHAS KI SAVO 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Ki Savo 20 Elul 5779/September 20, 2019 – Avos perakim 3-4 The month of June is a busy time for the Staum family, as we prepare to migrate to Camp Dora Golding in East Stroudsburg, PA for the summer. This year, the day before […]
PARSHAS KI SETZEI 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Ki Setzei 13 Elul 5779/September 13, 2019 – Avos perakim 1-2 Early Friday morning this past week, as I was preparing the Gemara I would be teaching in shiur later that day, I recalled a question one of my students had asked me about a […]
PARSHAS SHOFTIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Shoftim 6 Elul 5779/September 6, 2019 – Avos perek 6 Every night, I empty the contents of my pockets onto the dresser in my bedroom. That often includes loose change, receipts – many of which contain shorthand notes or reminders- clean and dirty tissues, and […]