Rabbi’s Musings & Amusings

On a Shabbos morning in 1990, I was walking to shul with my father and a neighbor. My father and my neighbor were discussing how comprehensive the newly published ArtScroll Mishnayos were. At that time, ArtScroll had published quite a few volumes of Mishnayos, but they still had ways to go before finishing all of it. What they had already published was well received. My father commented to our neighbor that he had read that ArtScroll was working on a Gemara that was due to be published in the coming months. The neighbor was incredulous that ArtScroll would publish the translation of an entire masechta of Gemara with insights and footnotes. But a few months later, ArtScroll indeed released its first masechta, Makos.

On Thursday mornings, I have a weekly phone conversation with our older son Shalom, who is learning in Eretz Yisrael. Often, our conversation centers on the parshah. Recently, he asked me why the Matriarchs named their children after their own experiences? “She called him Reuven because Hashem saw my pain.” “She called him Shimon because Hashem heard that I was hated…” “She said this time my husband will accompany me because I gave birth to three sons. Therefore, she called him Levi” “This time I thank Hashem. Therefore, she called him Yehudah…”

Winter means different things to different people. For those living further south, it’s time to enjoy the sun without it being too hot. But for the majority of us living further north, winter weather ranges from cold to freezing with unpredictable snow and ice storms. Around here you can’t be outside too long without a coat.

A former colleague who is a wonderful educator would address his students each day before the students began afternoon classes. For a while, he would end each day’s announcements by bidding the students that they “be matzliach (successful) and make us proud.”

One of the great techniques of drama is to use a cliffhanger. When the power of suspense is harnessed, it ensures that the reader/viewer will stay tuned to find out what happens next. All good serials - books, magazines, or shows - use a cliffhanger to ensure interest in the next segment.

Not far from our home in Monsey/Spring Valley is the Jewish cemetery where many great tzadikim are buried. There is an enclosed area, where, most notably, is the kever of the Ribnitzer Rebbe. In this vicinity are the k’varim of the previous two Skulener Rebbes and the late Vizhnitzer Rebbe. There is another section of the cemetery outside the wall where Rav Mordechai Schwab, the tzadik of Monsey, is buried. There are many other great people buried throughout both sections of the cemetery.