PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5778 “TIME AND PLACE”[1] Last year, as he was beginning his remarks at a fahrbrengen[2] he was leading, Rabbi YY Jacobson related the following: “I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it here tonight. I was in Aventura, Florida for an educator’s convention, and had a flight […]
PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYISHLACH 5778 “ULTIMATE INFLUENCE”[1] The Chofetz Chaim related a story about “chossid echad”[2] who set out to influence the world. He arrived in a city and offered to speak, but was surprised to find the people to be disinterested. “How much are you charging?” “Why should we listen to you?” He left […]
PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYETZEI 5778 “ULTIMATE CURRENCY”[1] Rav Matisyahu Salomon shlita notes that every year, as we read the parshios in Bereishis, we enjoy discussing the profundity and extent of Avrohom Avinu’s chesed. There always seem to be new explanations and perspectives which expound upon how selfless and extreme the chesed of Avrohom was. Rav […]
PARSHAS TOLDOS 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS TOLDOS 5778 “VALUE SYSTEM” The following story was published in Hamodia, Tuesday, August 9, 2016: Under the circumstances, the very fact that such a conversation even took place is astonishing. On a cold day in the fall of 1944, in the constant shadow of terrible death surrounded by unspeakable horror, when Aviezer […]
PARSHAS CHAYEI SARA 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS CHAYEI SARA 5778 “YOUNG AND OLD”[1] It’s pretty amazing that four of our children share birthdays. Two of them are twins, so that’s not surprising. But Aviva and Avi were born on November 7th three years to the day apart from each other.[2] A number of years ago we heard Aviva and […]
Special Supplement
This Monday, 17 MarCheshvan, is the yahrtzeit of my Savta, Mrs. Minnie Staum, Shprintza bas Avrohom Yitzchok a’h. Savta was from the Gold family, who were well-known for their chesed and love for every Jew. The words below are appropriate to share in honor of her yahrtzeit. May her neshama have an Aliyah. Rabbi Leibel […]
PARSHAS VAYERA 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYERA 5778 “A DIFFERENT MANNER”[1] It was one of the most intriguing stories I have ever read, and yet, I don’t know how many people are familiar with the story: A few years ago, a high-ranking minister and member of the private security cadre of the Queen of Denmark, was walking […]
PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5778 “ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP”[1] Last year, on Chol Hamoed Succos, our family went to Liberty Science Center, where we met up with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and children. The Center has an attraction which allows you to sense what it’s like to be unable to see. You […]
PARSHAS NOACH 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS NOACH 5778 “ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP”[1] “Most people live the life that happens, instead of the life that they truly want.”[2] Noach is described by the Torah as being, צדיק תמים – perfectly righteous. Yet, he is always held up to the standard of Avrohom Avinu. Therefore, as great as […]
SIMCHAS TORAH 5778
STAM TORAH SIMCHAS TORAH 5778 “UNINHIBITED JOY” One year on Simchas Torah, the Chelkas Yaakov[1] noticed one of the members of his shul dancing with intense fervor and devotion. The man was not well versed in Torah, and didn’t learn much throughout the year. For some time, the Chelkas Yaakov watched in fascination as the […]