PARSHAS NOACH 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Noach 3 MarCheshvan 5777/ November 4, 2016 One of the most exciting aspects of Yom Tov is the preparation during the days beforehand. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t like schlepping, shopping, and cleaning. But I love the atmosphere, the frenzied feeling that Yom Tov is […]
Parshas Bereishis 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bereishis – Mevorchim Chodesh Cheshvan Tishrei 5777/ October 28, 2016 On Simchas Torah morning, after the Kiddush ended, I carried our three-year-old son Dovid beneath the canopy spread atop the bimah, for Kol Hane’orim (the special Aliyah for all children who aren’t old enough to recite the […]
Hoshanah Rabbah – Erev Shemini Atzeres 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Hoshanah Rabbah – Erev Shemini Atzeres 21 Tishrei 5777/ October 22, 2016 “Abba, the power is out in half of the rooms upstairs!” While trying to prepare derashos for Rosh Hashanah, that’s not what I wanted to hear. But I headed upstairs to try to figure out the electric issue. I […]
PARSHAS HA’AZINU 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Haazinu 12 Tishrei 5777/ October 13, 2016 Once upon a time, there was a family named The Staums, who resided at 3 Landau Lane in Spring Valley, NY. This wonderful family was thrilled to spend its summers at Camp Dora Golding in East Stroudsburg, PA, where Rabbi […]
YOM KIPPUR 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5777/ October 11, 2016 It seems that, aside for the wave of penitent emotions, the High Holy Days also arouse a certain level of nostalgia. I mentioned last week that during my formative years, my family lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We davened […]
Parshas Vayelech – Shabbas Shuva 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayelech – Shabbas Shuva 5 Tishrei 5777/ October 7, 2016 It wasn’t easy getting a meeting with the king. How many strings did he have to pull, how many connections did he have to utilize, to get those precious few moments with the king? Wouldn’t you think […]
PARSHAS NETZOVIM 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Netzovim 27 Elul Av 5776/ September 30, 2016 Pirkei Avos – Perakim 5-6 Nothing these days seems to be simple. Simple is too boring for us. So everything has to have a lot of fanfare and become a big production. This includes the packaging of products. Sometimes […]
Rosh Hashanah 5777
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Rosh Hashanah of 5777 29 Elul Av 5776/ October 2, 2016 Although I have lived in Monsey for most of my life, I am not a Monsey native. My formative years were spent living in the legendary Lower East Side of Manhattan. Until I was eight years old, we lived […]
PARSHAS KI SAVO 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo 20 Elul Av 5776/ September 23, 2016 Motzei Shabbos – Haschalas Selichos Pirkei Avos – Perakim 3-4 It’s something we probably don’t appreciate enough. It’s a wonderful thing to be part of a community that is so eager to perform acts of chesed for […]
PARSHAS KI SEITZEI 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Setzei 13 Elul Av 5776/ September 16, 2016 Pirkei Avos – Perakim 1-2 The following is an addendum to last week’s Musings. I am including (in italics) last week’s Musings, followed by the addition: It’s fascinating how new words are constantly being added to our […]