PARSHAS TERUMAH 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 3 Adar I 5776/ February 12, 2016 While standing and davening at the Kosel Hama’aravi last week I was reminded of the following anecdote I had once heard: An elderly man who was attending an NFL game one Sunday afternoon with his family. In the middle […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Adar I 26 Shevat 5776/ February 5, 2016 There were many special highlights and memorable moments during my recent trip to Eretz Yisroel with my son Shalom, in honor of his bar mitzvah. We had the zechus of receiving berachos from many gedolim, […]
Parshas Yisro 5776
Among the vast collection of jokes that I have heard from my father over the years is the following:There was once a British fellow, a rich American, an Indian, an imbecile, and an Israeli sitting together in a diner. The Brit turned to the quadro and said, “excuse me gentlemen, what is your opinion about […]
PARSHAS BO 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 5 Shevat 5776/ January 15, 2016 It’s perhaps the most rabbinic word in the dictionary. If a person has aspirations to become a rabbi, aside from knowing halacha and how to develop a practical lesson from the parsha, he’s gotta be able to pronounce the word […]
PARSHAS VA’ERA 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Va’era Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat 28 Teves 5776/ January 8, 2016 Periodically at a simcha the waiter will give the guests a choice about what kind of soup they would like. When the waiter asks me if I would like vegetable soup or broccoli soup, I often reply […]
PARSHAS SHEMOS 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos 21 Teves 5776/ January 1, 2016 It was so strange. This week on Tuesday morning, those of us in the New York area, awoke to ice and snow. After a December which boasted days when it was warmer and brighter in New York than in […]
PARSHAS VAYECHI 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi 14 Teves 5776/ December 25, 2015 Someone once quipped that their mother was always serving leftovers; they have never found the original! Everyone seems to groan when they hear that they are having leftovers for supper. Some mothers try to reason with their family “You […]
PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayigash 7 Teves 5776/ December 18, 2015 One morning this week one of my fellow rabbeim chided me for eating a Greek Yogurt during breakfast. He wanted to know how I could eat anything Greek during Chanukah. I continued eating my yogurt without replying. When the […]
PARSHAS MIKETZ – CHANUKAH 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz – Rosh Chodesh Teves 6 Chanukah 29 Kiselv 5776/ December 11, 2015 I wear various hats, albeit not at once. A few weeks ago, they all merged, although thankfully they did not collide. After Shabbos when I wear my “Rabbi hat” (it’s one of the […]
PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5776
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeshev 22 Kiselv 5776/ December 4, 2015 I am blessed to be close with many great Torah scholars who I consider personal rabbeim and/or mentors. One of those individuals is a respected educator who inspires his students in his uniquely skillful and devoted manner. He also […]