Parshas Bereishis 5785
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Hoshana Rabbah 21 Tishrei 5785/ October 23, 2024 ELEVATED CIRCLES I know the Jewish people have been doing the Simchas Torah dancing thing the same way for thousands of years. But based on some trends I see in America I was thinking of some new ideas we can introduce […]
Succos 5785
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Succos 14 Tishrei 5785/ October 15, 2024 GROWTH POSITION October means it’s Major League Baseball Postseason time. Religious Jews who are sports fans clandestinely struggle to find ways to be informed of the scores of their team during the many holidays of this time period. I heard one […]
Yom Kippur 5785
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh – Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5785/ October 11, 2024 OH DEER For those living in New York City, it’s quite rare to see deer. But for those of us who live on the other side of the Hudson River it is quite common. In fact, recently […]
Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Netzovim-Vayelech 23 Elul 5784/ September 27, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 5-6 KUGEL JUICE It’s been said that more people become religious because of the Rebbetzin’s kugel than because of the Rabbi’s sermon. This past Friday I couldn’t stop thinking about my wife’s kugel all […]
Parshas Ki Savo 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo 17 Elul 5784/ September 20, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 3-4 UNAPOLOGETIC PRIDE Each year before Tisha b’Av I spend a considerable amount of time working with the learning director of Camp Dora Golding, my rebbe, Rabbi Noach Sauber, to develop a program […]
Parshas Ki Seitzei 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Setzei 10 Elul 5784/ September 13, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 2 Lovingly dedicated in memory of my Uncle R’ Shmuel Kohn, Shmuel Chaim ben Rav Yaakov Meir, who was niftar suddenly this week. When we spoke, Uncle Shmuel would often comment to […]
Parshas Shoftim 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shoftim 3 Elul 5784/ September 6, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 1-2 MAMA RACHEL CRY It wasn’t the way we envisioned or hoped. We so wanted to see Hirsh Goldberg-Polin reunited with his family. No family should have to suffer as they did. Perhaps we, […]
Parshas Re’eh 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Re’eh 26 Menachem Av 5784/ August 30, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 6 Mevorchim Chodesh Elul A HERO INDEED I never thought of myself as being very tech savvy. In fact, I still don’t. If you would’ve told me two years ago that I would […]
Parshas Eikev 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Eikev 19 Menachem Av 5784/ August 23, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 5 UNINHIBITED GROWTH Our family has the great fortune to spend our summers at Camp Dora Golding. We have a wonderful and comfortable bungalow, but obviously smaller than our home in Monsey. For […]
Parshas Vaeschanan 5784
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaeschanan/Nachamu 12 Menachem Av 5784/ August 16, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 4 IN MIND It is axiomatic that every holiday of the year has a specific avodah, a spiritual focus, often with physical actions but at least conceptually. Each holiday is unique and strengthens […]