PARSHAS PEKUDEI 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pekudei/Shekalim 28 Adar 5774/February 28, 2014 I haven’t received one of them in some time, but for a number of years I must have received five of them a day. It was those pesky emails which contained either a joke, an attempted inspirational thought, or some silly […]
PARSHAS VAYAKHEL 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel 21 Adar 5774/February 21, 2014 I’m not really sure if it’s grandparental-amnesia or revenge. Did my mother forget what’s it like to have five young children, or is she now insidiously exacting revenge against me? Last week, my parents were gracious enough to watch three of […]
PARSHAS KI SISA 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa 14 Adar 5774/February 14, 2014 (Written for Ashar’s ‘Ashrei News’) Despite the fact that all of his fellow sixth graders were major sports fans, Eddie didn’t know much about sports. In fact, Eddie didn’t know anything about sports. Eddie was more excited to discuss politics, […]
PARSHAS TETZAVEH 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh 7 Adar 5774/February 7, 2014 It’s one of those things you don’t think about much. If ever you’re driving your car and the windshield gets a bit dirty you squirt some of that windshield cleaner stuff, causing the wipers to spurt to life for a moment, […]
PARSHAS TERUMAH 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah 30 Shevat (1 Rosh Chodesh Adar I) 5774/January 31, 2014 It’s an age-old women’s question: Why when a woman cares for her children is it called ‘watching my kids’, but when a man watches his children he tells everyone he’s babysitting? Hashem created everyone with their […]
PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim 23 Shevat 5774/January 25, 2014 The new rail system that cuts through Yerushalayim is magnificent. Not only is the train incredibly convenient, significantly minimizing the impossible Yerushalayim traffic, the train is also clean, quiet, and efficient. The train runs along Rechov Yaffo, making its way from […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5768
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 16 Shevat 5774/January 17, 2014 As we sat on the plane awaiting takeoff a few weeks ago, our three year old daughter Chayala looked out the plane’s window and made an exciting observation, “Look Mommy and Abba; there’s an airplane.” A wise man once said: “If […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH /SHABBOS SHIRAH / TU B’SHVAT 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach 9 Shevat 5774/January 10, 2014 It’s been a while since I’ve read Stephen Covey’s classic “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. Recently I opened my highlighted, marked-up copy of the New York Times #1 bestseller, and was again swept away by its insights. In the […]
PARSHAS BO 5774
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 2 Shevat 5774/January 3, 2014 A few summers ago in Camp Dora Golding, Rabbi Noach Sauber, a masterful educator (currently camp’s learning director) would give a brief night seder each night following maariv to the oldest divisions in camp. His topic was halacha, and each […]
PARSHAS VA’ERA 5768
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Va’era – Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat 23 Teves 5774/December 27, 2013 Jack rushed into the airport. Traffic had been heavy getting to the airport, and he was eager to check in and get through security. He checked three times to make sure he had his passport and […]