PARSHAS SHOFTIM 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shoftim – Avos perek 6 7 Elul 5778/August 17, 2018 I have been attending summer camp for almost three decades. I have been a camper, masmid, office boy, junior counselor, counselor, learning rebbe, head waiter, and the division head of almost every age. But I have […]
PARSHAS RE’EH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Re’eh Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Elul – Avos perek 5 29 Av 5778/August 10, 2018 On a recent Sunday afternoon, I attended three weddings. Thankfully, they were all within a half hour of each other. Each was special and wonderful, but it was a long and draining day. […]
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 […]