PARSHAS EIKEV 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Eikev Mevorchim Chodesh Elul – Avos perek 4 22 Av 5778/August 3, 2018 I wonder if others have had this experience too. Before Tisha B’av I was listening to a lecture about the importance of being nosei b’ol im chaveiro (sharing the burden with one’s friend). Essentially, […]
PARSHAS VAESCHANAN/NACHAMU 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaeschanan Shabbas Nachamu – Avos perek 3 15 Av 5778/July 28, 2018 During one of Abbot and Costello’s famous comic routines, Lou Costello was on trial in court. At one point he made a disrespectful remark towards the judge. The judge reprimanded him and said, “you can’t […]
PARSHAS DEVORIM 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Devorim Shabbas Chazon – Tisha B’av 8 Av 5778/July 20, 2018 There are certain phrases, motions, and actions, which instantly become catch phrases. They may have been non-existent one day, and then the next day everyone seems to be caught in the craze. Not too long ago, […]
PARSHAS MATOS-MASEI 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Matos-Masei –Avos Perek 2 Shabbas Chazak – Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av 1 Av 5778/July 13, 2018 America takes sports quite seriously. Baseball is our national pastime, and basketball and hockey are not too shabby. The Super Bowl is the most viewed annual event of the year, with […]
PARSHAS PINCHOS 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pinchos –Avos Perek 1 23 Tamuz 5778/July 6, 2018 The last few days have been quite hot in the New York area, to say the least. With temperatures in the upper 90s, and intense humidity that drove the heat index over 100 degrees, it felt oppressive. […]
PARSHAS BALAK 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Balak –Avos Perek 6 16 Tamuz 5778/June 29, 2018 Shortly before Pesach vacation began in Heichal HaTorah this year, a conscientious student who takes his spiritual growth seriously asked to speak with me in my office. The student said that with only a few days left before […]
PARSHAS CHUKAS 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Chukas –Avos Perek 5 9 Tamuz 5778/June 22, 2018 It’s the last thing any driver wants to see in their rear-view mirror. Yes, blue lives matter, but we don’t want to see a cop driving right behind us. I had the delightful experience a few weeks ago, […]
PARSHAS KORACH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Korach –Avos Perek 4 2 Tamuz 5778/June 15, 2018 Living in New York unquestionably has benefits and drawbacks. But for high schoolers, living in New York means having to take the dreaded Regents exams. Our oldest, Shalom, took his first Regents this week. For the last few […]
PARSHAS SHELACH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shelach –Avos Perek 3 Mevorchim Chodesh Tamuz 25 Sivan 5778/June 8, 2018 During the Scripps National Spelling Bee last week, 13-year-old Shiva Yeshlur from Wyoming was asked to spell the word “Cholent”. Yeshlur requested a definition from the judges. The reply: “A Jewish Sabbath-day dish of […]
PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSCHA 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beha’aloscha –Avos Perek 2 18 Sivan 5778/June 1, 2018 Shlomo Hamelech stated: “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of celebration, and the living will give heart” (Koheles 7:2) Although Simchos are beautiful and uplifting, most of the […]