PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayishlach 15 Kislev 5779/November 23, 2018 Check your pockets; if you purchased a lottery ticket a few weeks ago, you may have the winning ticket. As of this writing, the $1.5 billion mega millions jackpot has still not been claimed. The winner, who beat the odds of […]
PARSHAS VAYTZEI 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayetzei 8 Kislev 5779/November 16, 2018 October 26-27 a few weeks ago, was the week of the Shabbat project, when Jews of all affiliations and backgrounds throughout the world were uniting in observing Shabbos. It has become in vogue at the end of Shabbatons to have a […]
PARSHAS TOLDOS 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos – Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1 Kislev 5779/November 9, 2018 Last week I had two packages to send out. One was a bar mitzvah gift of a friend’s son; the other was a thank you gift for a person who gave of his time to help me […]
PARSHAS CHAYEI SARAH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Chayei Sarah 24 Cheshvan 5779/November 2, 2018 Mevorchim Chodesh Kislev Last year on December 25, 2017, Heichal HaTorah hosted a grandfather-grandson morning of Torah learning. It was beautiful and touching to see grandfathers sitting next to their grandsons learning together. On that morning, I was about to […]
PARSHAS VAYERA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayera 17 Cheshvan 5779/October 26, 2018 On Yom Kippur a few weeks ago, all day long I couldn’t stop thinking about Titus. That may sound strange, being that Titus is one of the infamous villains recounted on Tisha B’av. He was the commanding Roman general who oversaw […]
PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Lech Lecha 10 Cheshvan 5779/October 19, 2018 It’s not just proper protocol and good manners, but it’s actually an ancient custom mentioned in the gemara. When someone invites you to their home, it’s proper to give them a gift. The gemara (Megilla 26a) states “Abayei said: we […]
PARSHAS NOACH 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Noach 3 Cheshvan 5779/October 12, 2018 In Boston they are rejoicing, in Queens they are breathing a sigh of relief, and in the Bronx they are grumbling morbidly. The Yankees season is over! 2018 will not be the year the Yankees win their 28th Championship! To lose […]
PARSHAS BEREISHIS 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bereishis Mevorchim Chodesh MarCheshvan 27 Tishrei 5779/October 5, 2018 Every year on Shabbos Parshas Bereishis, I would begin my brilliant sermon (I only gave brilliant sermons) in the following manner: “We set out on an incredible journey seven weeks ago. It begin with shofar blowing and […]
Shabbos Chol Hamoed Succos 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Chol Hamoed Succos 19 Tishrei 5779/September 28, 2018 Contemporary halachic authorities rule that one may not run a washing machine or dishwasher in his home during Shabbos. One may not even leave it on before Shabbos so that it will continue to run after Shabbos begins, nor may […]
Parshas Vayelech – Shabbas Shuva 5779
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayelech – Shabbas Shuva 5 Tishrei 5779/September 14, 2018 With tremendous gratitude to Hashem, we just celebrated the second birthday of our twin sons, Gavriel and Michael. They started the ‘wonderful twos’ early and definitely have been keeping us on our toes, to say the least. One […]