PARSHAS YISRO 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro 21 Shevat 5773/Febuary 1, 2013 The buzz is in the air. Get your hoagies and chips ready. It’s ‘Erev Super Bowl Sunday’. You may not even know which teams are playing; you may not even like football at all. But if you’re a good American, your gearing […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach (Shabbos Shirah/Tu B’Shvat) 14 Shevat 5773/January 25, 2013 I remember my Bubby – may she live and be well – once emphatically telling me that I should never trust Polish people. When I noted that she herself was Polish, she immediately replied, “And you think I trust […]
PARSHAS BO 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo 6 Shevat 5773/January 18, 2013 The first day of ninth grade is unquestionably a big milestone. I remember my first day vividly. Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey would become my second home for twelve years, but on that first day it was anything but home. After shacharis […]
PARSHAS VA’ERA 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera, Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat 29 Teves 5773/January 11, 2013 As we were preparing for our shul Chanukah Chagigah in our home a few weeks ago, I went into the garage to find a rather heavy table that we keep there. Despite the bulkiness and heaviness of the table […]
PARSHAS SHEMOS 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos 22 Teves 5773/January 4, 2013 Dear Principal I am writing to you out of deep aggravation and frustration. Last night my son came home from school and reported to my wife that the boys in his class didn’t allow him to play in their game during recess. […]
PARSHAS VAYECHI 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi 15 Teves 5773/December 28, 2012 Mr. Alex Gold, the indefatigable and devoted director of Camp Dora Golding began his orientation to the campers this past summer by recounting the following personal vignette: “One day I was walking towards my car in Brooklyn, and as I took my car […]
PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayigash 8 Teves 5773/December 21, 2012 The Jewish people always have the last laugh. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to recognize it, but it never fails. Pharaoh tried to control our population by forcing us into extreme slave labor, but the more he oppressed us the more […]
PARSHAS MIKETZ/CHANUKAH 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz – 6th day of Chanukah Rosh Chodesh Teves 5773/December 14, 2012 I love bakeries. I love the rows of pastries, each in their own shape and colors. But most of all I love the smell. When I go to the bakery and it’s my turn on line and […]
PARSHAS VAYESHEV/CHANUKAH 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeshev 23 Kislev 5773/December 7, 2012 What a delightful Holiday Chanukah is; a holiday of light and a celebration of the divine. The customs and traditions of Chanukah add to the joy of the day, as we play dreidel and then eat latkes and donuts until we […]
PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5773
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayishlach 16 Kislev 5773/November 30, 2012 “A Day in Court” Scene One Warning: The following scene can be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion advised. The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense. The judge peered intensely at the litigants, as he listened to the defending lawyer’s closing arguments. The defendant […]