SUCCOS 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ha’azinu/Succos 12 Tishrei 5773/September 28, 2012 According to today’s second leading knowledge authority, Wikipedia, (the number one leader is cha-cha), “Betta is a large genus of small, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes in the gourami family.” But a few years ago there was a Betta fish in the Staum family (the gourami’s never complained to […]
YOM KIPPUR 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5773/September 25, 2012 It’s never a good thing when your vacuum cleaner, not only stops cleaning the floor, but also begins regurgitating what it previously suctioned. That’s exactly what happened in the Staum house Erev Shabbos last week. So with no recourse I surgically opened […]
PARSHIOS NETZOVIM-VAYELECH 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Nitzavim – Pirkei Avos, perakim 5-6 27 Elul 5772/September 14, 2012 This week, on the eleventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks, I was recounting to my fifth grade Ashar students my personal memories of that horrific day. I mentioned that it was the first time in […]
PARSHAS KI SAVO 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo – Pirkei Avos, perakim 3-4 20 Elul 5772/September 8, 2012 During the break between camp and yeshiva I accompanied Chani to our family pediatrician for our almost two year old daughter Chayala’s appointment. After the doctor finished his examination he asked us if we had […]
PARSHAS KI SETZEI 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Setzei – Pirkei Avos, perakim 1-2 13 Elul 5772/September 1, 2012 One evening last week, shortly before we returned home from camp, I had to travel into Brooklyn to be menachem avel a fellow camp administration member. The trip is normally about an hour and […]
PARSHAS SHOFTIM 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shoftim – Pirkei Avos, perek 6 6 Elul 5772/August 25, 2012 The Siyum Hashas at Metlife stadium three weeks ago generated a great deal of worthy discussion and deserved fascination. Also, like everything else, by now its discussion has begun to fade, as new occurrences warrant […]
PARSHAS RE’EH 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Re’eh – Pirkei Avos, perek 5 Rosh Chodesh Elul 5772/August 17, 2012 “Isn’t it amazing how time flies? I can’t believe it’s already time to pack up and head home.” “I agree. Didn’t summer just begin? And now it’s Elul, almost time for school, and Rosh Hashanah […]
PARSHAS EIKEV 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Eikev – Pirkei Avos, perek 4 22 Av 5772/August 10, 2012 The yeshiva bochur was late for his close friend’s wedding and he really wanted to catch the chuppah. When he finally neared the hall, to his chagrin, there were no parking spots to be found. […]
PARSHAS VAESCHANAN 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaeschanan – Pirkei Avos, perek 3 Shabbos Nachamu – 15 Av 5772/August , 2012 Torrents of tears, rivers of innocent blood, unbridled anguish, unmitigated suffering, ruthless cruelty, and extremes of evil, all come to life in the painful pages of the Kinnos of Tisha B’av. It’s […]
PARSHAS DEVORIM SHABBOS CHAZON 5772
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Devorim – Pirkei Avos, perek 3 Shabbos Chazon – Tisha B’av 5772/July 27, 2012 Rabbi Mordechai Finkelman shlita, our Mashgiach in Camp Dora Golding (as well as the Mashgiach in Yeshiva Ohr HaChaim in Queens, NY), related that at a Torah Umesorah Convention he attended some years […]