And One
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Mishpatim Mevorchim Chodesh Adar 23 Shevat 5785/ February 21, 2025 AND ONE Anyone who attended Camp Torah Voda’as or Camp Dora Golding when Rabbi Yitzy Erps was the night activity director will likely never forget how he announced the night activity. During supper each weeknight of camp, […]
Re-Repeat
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 16 Shevat 5785/ February 14, 2025 RE-REPEAT This past week, the Super Bowl featured the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles. There was even more hype than the usual Super Bowl excitement because the Chiefs were looking to become the first team to win a […]
Spared Blessing
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach – Shabbos Shirah 5785 9 Shevat 5785/ February 7, 2025 SPARED BLESSING A few years ago, my dear friend Rabbi Naftali Eisgrau shared with me the following anecdote: Rabbi Eisgrau’s father-in-law is the late Rabbi Avi Shulman. Rabbi Shulman, who insisted on always being called Mr. […]
Drip Drip
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera 5785 23 Teves 5785/ January 23, 2025 Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat DRIP DRIP Our plumber, Menashe, is a wonderful guy. He’s the type of person I am happy to meet almost anywhere – a wedding, parent teacher conference (some of our children attend the same schools), or […]
Present Demands
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera 5785 23 Teves 5785/ January 23, 2025 Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat PRESENT DEMANDS Making a simcha of any kind – b’ris, bar or bas mitzvah, a vort and of course a wedding – is always a blessing. It’s a blessing that inevitably carries with it some level […]
Which Direction
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos 5785 17 Teves 5785/ January 17, 2025 WHICH DIRECTION For the first three and a half months after we got married my wife and I lived in Flatbush while my wife finished a one-year post-seminary program there. Despite the fact that we are not native Brokklynites, […]
Through Thick & Thin
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi 5785 10 Teves 5785/ January 10, 2025 The other day I made an appointment to get a haircut. When I arrived at the barber shop, the barber asked me if he could take a customer before me as the customer was a chosson. I allowed the […]
Reflective Greatness
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayigash 5785 3 Teves 5785/ January 3, 2025 One afternoon, before I got married, I went with a friend to a Yankees game. We brought sandwiches from home and figured it would be a good idea to wash our hands in a bathroom on the way up […]
Striving Higher
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz 5785 – Shabbos Chanukah 26 Kislev 5785/ December 27, 2024 If my memory serves me correctly – which it generally doesn’t these days – it was about 25 years ago that I typed and emailed a dvar Torah for the first time. This was back in […]
I’ll Try
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeshev 5785 19 Kislev 5785/ December 20, 2024 I’LL TRY Say the words “finding teachers” to any yeshiva principal and chances are he’ll roll his eyes and perhaps even snort. He may likely also break into a sweat and his heart will begin racing. I think it’s […]