PARSHAS PEKUDEI 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pekudei Rosh Chodesh Adar II 5779/March 8, 2019 My rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, often quips that all rabbis like to say a few words before they speak. This week’s Musings is quite a milestone, in that it is the 500th “Rabbi’s Musings and Amusings” I have […]
PARSHAS VAYAKHEL-SHEKALIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel/Shekalim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar II 24 Adar I 5779/March 1, 2019 An excerpt of the following article appeared in Hamodia’s Inyan Magazine, November 28, 2018: THE FLOWING WELLS: WHY RABBI TWERSKI IS MISTAKEN Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski is an incredibly insightful […]
PARSHAS KI SISA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa 17 Adar I 5779/February 22, 2019 Our Yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah, embarked on a special project to compile our own yeshiva siddur. The siddur will iyH include insights and explanations from our talmidim and rabbeim. It’s quite an undertaking, but it has already had a […]
PARSHAS TETZAVEH – PURIM KATAN 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh 10 Adar I 5779/February 15, 2019 This past weekend, our family enjoyed a wonderful Shabbos at my parent’s home in the Forshay section of Monsey. Shabbos morning was very cold, with a biting wind making it feel even colder. At about 7:20 am, I left […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 3 Adar I 5779/February 8, 2019 For all our technological innovations and uncanny advancements, there is still one thing we have absolutely no control over – the weather. Last week a polar vortex – whatever that is – enveloped much of the United States, bringing […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar I 26 Shevat 5779/February 1, 2019 For years, the Tappan Zee Bridge connected Rockland and Westchester Counties. It was a very impressive structure, with much of the bridge being more like a highway just above the water. Towards the Westchester side, the […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 19 Shevat 5779/January 25, 2019 Joe McConnen was a husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, activist, and philanthropist. But above all, he was legendary as an absolutely diehard New York Giants fan. They said he bled (big) blue. He was obsessed with everything football and his schedule […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH/SHABBOS SHIRA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach 12 Shevat 5779/January 18, 2019 On Chol Hamoed Succos a few months ago, the Staum family attended a concert in Teaneck, NJ, featuring Mordechai Shapiro and the Yeshiva Boys Choir. It was a wonderful nice show and our children really enjoyed it. As we were taking […]
PARSHAS BO 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 5 Shevat 5779/January 11, 2019 During the last few years I have perused the advertisements in our community’s wonderful weekly publications. Based on those advertisements, I have come to a realization of the ideal manner in which a person in our community should spend his year. […]
PARSHAS VAERA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat 27 Teves 5779/January 4, 2019 Last Friday afternoon, shortly after I arrived home, our two-and-a-half-year-old twins woke up from their nap. (They make it known when they are ready to come out). When I went in to take Michael out of his crib, […]