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 […]

PARSHAS RE’EH 5779

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Re’eh/Rosh Chodesh Elul      29 Menachem Av 5779/August 30, 2019 – Avos perek 5             For the last six months, I have been working on creating a new siddur for our Yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah. Well, I’m not actually writing a new siddur; the Sages throughout the ages […]

PARSHAS EIKEV 5779

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Eikev Mevorchim Chodesh Elul      22 Menachem Av 5779/August 23, 2019 – Avos perek 5             It was a really wonderful camp season at Camp Dora Golding this summer b”h. But all good things must come to an end, and on Monday we bid each other farewell. […]

PARSHAS VAESCHANAN / NACHAMU 5779

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vaeschanan – Shabbas Nachamu       15 (Tu) Menachem Av 5779/August 16, 2019 – Avos perek 4             I came to a fascinating realization recently: The people who are paid the highest salaries in our society are those who distract us. Think about it – who gets paid […]

PARSHAS DEVORIM/CHAZON 5779

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Devorim – Shabbas Chazon       8 Menachem Av 5779/August 9, 2019 – Avos perek 3             Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l was recognized throughout the Torah world as the foremost halachic authority and the leader of his time. As the ambulance sped through the streets of Manhattan carrying […]