PARSHAS BALAK 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHIOS BALAK 5775 “THE SOURCE OF ALACRITY” A fitness center is a strange place. There are stationary bicycles and treadmills that get you nowhere, no matter how hard you pedal/walk. There is a stair climber which you can climb for hours and end up no higher than […]
PARSHAS CHUKAS 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS CHUKAS 5775 “A PARADOXICAL ETERNITY” “This is the decree of the Torah… a completely red cow, without blemish…”[1] Rashi explains that Satan and the nations would taunt Klal Yisroel about parah adumah. Therefore, the Torah states that it is ‘a decree of the Torah’; therefore no […]
PARSHAS KORACH 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS KORACH 5775 “THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE” “If I Were The Devil” Paul Harvey I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world; I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man’s effort, instead of G-d’s blessings; I would promote an […]
PARSHAS SHELACH 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS SHELACH 5775 “SHABBAT SHALOM” Dave[1] had finished college. A young, restless, and vivacious American teenager, he decided that it would be an experience to bike across Europe. He spent weeks traveling from country to country with nothing more than a backpack, some money, and his bike. After […]
PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSCHA 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSCHA 5775 “TRUSTWORTHY” Whenever I speak to young students about the concept of friendship, I begin by asking them to describe the character traits they look for in a friend. They are quick to mention the obvious traits – “nice”, “playful”, “share”, “fun”, “helping”, […]
PARSHAS NASO 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS NASO 5775 “TO INFINITY AND BEYOND” At the Siyum HaShas[1] in March 2005, Rabbi Yissochar Frand related a story about a Jewish boxer who was very far removed from Judaism. Although his son didn’t even have a Bar Mitzvah, he became interested in his roots, and eventually […]
SHAVUOS 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW www.strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH SHAVUOS 5775 “HOLY NATION” Rabbi Avrohom Pam zt’l related the following story: There was once a wealthy fellow who was searching for a worthy husband for his daughter. He wanted his son-in-law to be a scholar of note and of exemplary character. The man was offering to support […]
PARSHAS BAMIDBAR 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW www.strivinghigher.com לז”נ רחל בת יונה, וחיה בת דוד ע’ה STAM TORAH PARSHAS BAMIDBAR 5775 “THE ULTIMATE EDUCATOR” “These are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe on the day G-d spoke with Moshe at Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aharon…” On this verse Rashi comments, “It […]
PARSHIOS BEHAR/BECHUKOSAI 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHIOS BEHAR/BECHUKOSAI 5775 “REGISTRATION COMPLETE” The following thought is excerpted from a lecture given by Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau shlita, at St Annes College, on May 7, 2006: “There was once a conference held with Professor Toynbee[1], of Oxford, and Rabbi Yaakov Herzog[2]. At the conference, Professor Toynbee […]
PARSHAS EMOR 5775 PESACH SHENI/LAG BA’OMER
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Strivinghigher.com STAM TORAH PARSHAS EMOR 5775 PESACH SHENI/LAG BA’OMER “TO SEE PAST” Rebbitzin Sheila Feinstein, wife of Rabbi Reuven Feinstein shlita, related the following story about her esteemed father-in-law, the great Torah leader, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt’l[1]: “One year a few hours prior to Yom Kippur, we went to my father-in-law’s […]