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 […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM/SHEKALIM 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim/Shekalim 24 Shevat 5778/February 9, 2018 Mevorchim Chodesh Adar Someone once noted that it’s not easy being the child of a therapist. Everything that happens in the child’s life is psychoanalyzed – why did you do that? How did that make you feel? For my children that’s […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 17 Shevat 5778/February 2, 2018 I am always amazed by airports. It’s incredible that from every gate throughout the terminals, planes depart for different places all over Earth. One gate off, and you can end up in Frankfurt, instead of Honolulu, Istanbul instead of Tel Aviv. […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH – SHABBOS SHIRAH – TU B’SHVAT 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach/Shabbos Shirah 10 Shevat 5778/January 26, 2018 As I was leaving shul one morning recently, a fellow stopped me and asked me the following question: “I’m a BT (Ba’al Teshuva)”, he began, “I learn Gemara, and it’s quite challenging for me. I know that I’m not going […]