PARSHAS MIKETZ/CHANUKAH 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Miketz/Shabbos Chanukah/Rosh Chodesh Teves 29 Kislev – 5th day of Chanukah 5780/December 27, 2019 ABSORBED & RADIATED             It’s one of those things that makes you wonder. During the winter there can be days of resplendent sunshine, without a cloud in the sky, and yet it will […]

PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayeshev 22 Kislev 5780/December 20, 2019 GAINING TRACTION             Winter is unquestionably here. Aside for the cold weather and snow, we have also had to contend with the more insidious danger of ice.             During a couple of cold mornings recently, I walked out of my house […]

PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayishlach 15 Kislev 5780/December 13, 2019 REPETITIVE MUSIC             Rabbi, I was wondering about our prayers. What’s with all the praises of G-d? It seems like we say a lot of similar stuff in different ways, over and over. I’ve always been taught that because G-d is […]

PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayetzei 8 Kislev 5780/December 6, 2019 BENEATH THE SURFACE             As far as the weather was concerned, this was a Thanksgiving to remember. Across the United States, the holiday celebration was impacted. In the Northwest there were powerful winds; the Midwest was hit with blizzard like conditions. […]

PARSHAS TOLDOS 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Toldos  – Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1 Kislev 5780/November 29, 2019 THUMBS UP             I’m just going to be forthright about it – I have weird thumbs. The truth is that weird is relative (especially my relatives), and I’m pretty convinced that the rest of the world has […]

CHAYEI SARAH 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Chayei Sarah    24 Cheshvan 5780/November 22, 2019 Mevorchim Chodesh Kislev This week’s Musings are lovingly dedicated in memory of my Zaydei, Yaakov Meir ben Yosef Yitzchak z”l, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Kohn, whose yahrtzeit is on Sunday evening, 27 Cheshvan. WHEN LESS IS MORE             This past […]

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, […]