PARSHAS BEHAR 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Behar 24 Iyar 5779/May 24, 2019 Avos perek 4 – 34th day of the Omer THE FIRE OF LAG BAOMER There are certain people whose accomplishments seem to traverse normal human limits. They seem to possess uncanny and selfless devotion to their causes which influence Klal […]
PARSHAS EMOR/ LAG BAOMER 5779
It’s that time of year again. It actually happens twice – once in the spring and once in the summer. It’s the periods of national mourning when Jewish barbers are on vacation and many Jewish men’s beards look scruffy and somewhat unkempt. Between Pesach and Shavuos, the days of Sefiras Ha’omer, we mourn the loss […]
PARSHAS KEDOSHIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Kedoshim 5 Iyar 5779/May 10, 2019 Avos perek 2 – 20th day of the Omer There’s a classic story about two beggars – one Jewish, the other non-Jewish – who would make their rounds begging together. One night they were sitting on a bench commiserating about […]
PARSHAS ACHREI MOS 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Acharei Mos 28 Nissan 5779/May 3, 2019 JUST LIKE THIS When I was younger, I was told that if a person eats too much of a certain food, he will eventually start to look like that food. Pesach proves the fallacy of that idea: the […]
PESACH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh/Pesach 14 Nissan 5779/April 19, 2019 So, when did “thing” become a thing? Our expressions are constantly evolving, especially in our society of constant new and exciting technology, where new words are frequently introduced to describe new apps and programs. But even within our everyday talk, especially among […]
PARSHAS METZORA/HAGADOL 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Meztora Shabbos Hagaol 7 Nissan 5779/April 12, 2019 It’s just one of those things that everyone knows. Golden Blossom makes honey, Tenuva produces milk and cheese, and Maxwell House publishes the Haggadah. I always wondered what the connection is between Maxwell House Coffee and the Haggadah. […]
PARSHAS TAZRIA/HACHODESH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tazria – Hachodesh Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Nissan 1 Nissan 5779/April 6, 2019 Everyone in the Staum family knows that Uncle Yitz is 38 years old and is turning 39 on his birthday. Uncle Yitz is my father’s older brother. He and my Aunt Chaya are blessed […]
PARSHAS SHEMINI/PARAH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemini – Parah Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan 22 Adar II 5779/March 29, 2019 On Purim afternoon, when I entered the home of a friend to give him shalach manos, there were a few women talking, one of whom was wearing a home-made hat with a propeller on […]
PURIM/SHUSHAN PURIM PARSHAS TZAV 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Shushan Purim Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tzav 15 Adar II 5779/March 22, 2019 Everyone wants to know the secret to wisdom. I can’t share it with you, because then it wouldn’t be a secret any more. (To be fair, that statement isn’t necessarily true. Everyone wants to know the secret to […]
PARSHAS VAYIKRA/ZACHOR/PURIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra-Zachor 7 Adar II 5779/March 15, 2019 Fall back and spring forward, or is it fall forward and spring back? Or is it fall into a spring and spring out of your fall? Whatever it is, as of this week we are back on daylight savings time. […]