PARSHAS MISHPATIM/ PARSHAS SHEKALIM 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS MISHPATIM/ PARSHAS SHEKALIM 5775 “THE UNQUANTIFIABLE HALF” Rabbi Yisroel Ba’al Shem Tov[1], the founder of the Chassidic movement, was legendary as a holy man who had ‘vision’ beyond physical confines. On one […]
PARSHAS YISRO 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS YISRO 5775 “ON THE ROAD” Rabbi Binny Freedman[1] related the following personal vignette: “Of all the unexpected visitors I have ever received, none even came close to the surprise I got in the summer […]
PARSHAS BESHALACH / SHABBOS SHIRA / TU B’SHVAT 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS BESHALACH/SHABBOS SHIRA TU B’SHVAT 5775 “WORTHY HATRED” Reb Dovid Blinder was a noted scholar in Russia in the late 1800s.[1] He taught children Torah when the egregious Cantonist decrees were in place[2]. To hide […]
PARSHAS BO 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS BO 5775 “IN THEIR EARS”[1] The verse in Parshas Bo states: למען תספר באזני בנך ובן בנך… וידעתם כי אני ה‘” – In order that you will relate in the ears of your […]
PARSHAS VAERA 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAERA 5775 “A MATTER OF PERCEPTION” “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” (Albert Einstein) A man once came to a psychiatrist for a consultation. “Doc,” the man began, “I live […]
PARSHAS SHEMOS 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS SHEMOS 5775 “EVER NOTICE” Leisure W. H. Davies What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?— No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare […]
PARSHAS VAYECHI 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYECHI 5775 “PERSONAL BLESSSINGS” As a School Social Worker, I often discuss with students the concept of having a healthy self-image. I explain that in order to develop healthy self-esteem, one must have a […]
PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5775 “A PAINFUL SENSE OF LOSS” Although some may feel that the story has a happy ending, in my mind it is one of the saddest stories I ever read[1]. The end does […]
CHANUKAH/MIKETZ 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH CHANUKAH/MIKETZ 5775 “AN INTROSPECTIVE HOLIDAY” A group of Chassidim once approached the legendary Rebbe, Rabbi Levy Yitzchok of Barditchev, and expressed their amazement and admiration for the incredible wealth and profligacy of a certain Russian […]
PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5775
Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYESHEV 5775 “A TRUE FRIEND” “A friend is someone who sees the first tear, catches the second, and stops the third.” (unknown) A colleague once related to me the following poignant thought: “True friendship […]