PARSHAS TZAV – SHABBOS HAGADOL 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tzav – Shabbos Hagadol 11 Nissan 5777/ April 7, 2017 On one occasion, I was speaking to my Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Schabes, about the challenge of constantly strengthening our emunah and bitachon. When I mentioned a certain popular book about emunah. Rabbi Schabes suggested that instead we […]
PARSHAS VAYIKRA 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra 4 Nissan 5777/ March 31, 2017 Lz”n Avrohom Yosef ben Naftali Hertz a”h Recently, I saw an article about the American classic song “Old Man River”, from the 1927 musical and 1936 film classic “Show Boat”. The song was composed by Jerome Kern, a secular Jew […]
PARSHAS VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI/HACHODESH 5777
“RABB I’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei/Hachodesh Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan 26 Adar 5777/ March 24, 2017 On Purim morning, I reached for a sefer off one of the shelves in my office, and, to my surprise, the whole bookcase collapsed. It wasn’t because I had drunk anything, as it was too […]
PARSHAS KI SISA/PARA 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa/Parah 19 Adar 5777/ March 17, 2017 “So Rabbi, bottom line, what’s the deal with drinking on Purim? What’s the message we are supposed to take from this unusual law?” That was the question I was asked by a sincere and thoughtful congregant last week. […]
PARSHAS TETZAVEH/ZACHOR PURIM 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Teztaveh/Parshas Zachor – Erev Purim 12Adar 5777/ March 10, 2017 “So I was on a roll — I was an executive with a nice salary, annual bonuses and stock options, all the perks. Everything was on track… And on Monday, January 7th, 2008 at three o’clock in the […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 5 Adar 5777/ March 3, 2017 A colleague once suggested that whenever an opportunity arises to discuss hashkafa (Jewish philosophical outlook) with students, I should grab the chance. Last week the gemara we are learning in class (perek Hakonais) mentioned the concept of melachos Shabbos, the […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM/SHEKLAIM 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim/Shekalim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar/Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar 29 Shevat 5777/ February 24, 2017 Three of our children have had food allergies throughout their lives. The earliest indication of the allergies, was from eczema that developed on their skin during late infancy. Of course, it’s most challenging for […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 20 Shevat 5777/ February 17, 2017 Jim Gaboardi is an 89-year-old, former post man, from Danbury, Connecticut, currently living in a local nursing home. While his granddaughter was visiting him recently, the mail was given out to the residents. Gaboardi sighed and told his granddaughter that […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH – TU B’SHVAT 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach Shabbas Shirah – Tu B’Shvat 14 Shevat 5777/ February 10, 2017 This past Friday morning, after I made my morning coffee, I headed down to my basement office to learn, as I do every morning. About ten minutes after I sat down at my desk, I […]
PARSHAS BO 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 7 Shevat 5777/ February 3, 2017 The Beipanjiang Bridge, suspended 1,854 feet above the Nizhu river in southwest China, is currently the highest bridge in the world. The $150 million crossing links the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou, and has cut travel time by about three […]