PARSHAS TAZRIA-METZORA 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tazria-Metzora –Avos Perek 2 5 Iyar 5778/April 20, 2018 When I was a kid (wow, I’ve reached that age…), before Pesach I would bring home a nice Pesach booklet that contained many Divrei Torah. Today, each of our children brings home a complete professional-looking Haggadah, which include […]
PARSHAS SHEMINI 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemini – Mevorchim Chodesh Iyar – Avos Perek 1 28 Nissan 5778/April 13, 2018 One of the responsibilities of the leaders of any institution is to fundraise. It’s usually regarded as the most dreaded and arduous part of the job. Yeshiva administrators and Roshei Yeshiva are […]
Acharon Shel Pesach 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shvi’i Shel Pesach – Erev Shabbos Kodesh/Acharon Shel Pesach 20 Nissan 5778/April 5, 2018 In my youth, before I owned any seforim I loved siddurim and machzorim, and was always excited by new ones. This was especially true as Artscroll published its machzorim. [Today, we can hardly remember what […]
PESACH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh – First day of Pesach 14 Nissan 5778/March 30, 2018 There’s no doubt that getting ready for Pesach isn’t easy. But with today’s new innovations there’s far less to stress about. For example, you can buy ten pieces of bread for bedikas chometz already prepared. No longer do […]
PARSHAS TZAV SHABBOS HAGADOL 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tzav Shabbos Hagadol 7 Nissan 5778/March 23, 2018 As a principal in a yeshiva during the afternoon, I appreciate the formidable challenge involved in finding good teachers. In fact, that’s the hardest part of a principal’s job. The teacher must not only be knowledgeable about the subject […]
PARSHAS VAYIKRA PARSHAS HACHODESH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra Parshas Hachodesh/Rosh Chodesh Nissan 29 Adar 5778/March 16, 2018 This year the Staum family enjoyed a wonderful Purim seudah at the home our friends and neighbors, the Binders, around the corner from our home. Before Purim I had invited talmidim and rabbeim from our yeshiva, Heichal […]
PARSHIOS VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI PARSHAS PARAH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei Parshas Parah/ Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan 22 Adar 5778/March 9, 2018 During shachris and mincha most weekdays, following shemoneh esrei, davening continues with the recitation of tachanun. Perhaps the most under-appreciated section of davening, tachanun is an intense supplication. We begin the prayer by resting our […]
PARSHAS KI SISA 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa SHUSHAN PURIM 15 Adar 5778/March 2, 2018 Last Friday, as President Trump took the podium at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he noticed his own reflection on television, and remarked that he would love to hear that guy speak. He then turned around began […]
PARSHAS TETZAVEH/ZACHOR PURIM 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh 8 Adar 5778/February 23, 2018 Parshas Zachor In case, you are afraid that the honor and respect conferred upon rabbis goes to their heads, rest assured that rabbis have a built-in ‘humility promoter’. They are called sermon snoozers. Most of them seem to sit in […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 1 Adar 5778/February 16, 2018 2 Rosh Chodesh Adar I don’t know if there’s anything worse than being a sock. Socks are put on hastily in the morning and have the inauspicious task of wrapping around a person’s smelly foot. They quickly become smelly, and often […]