Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

April 17th, 2021

Igneous rock and logarithm are not musical terms. The slide rule is not about how to conduct yourself at the playground. In case these terms are not at your fingertips, may I remind you: Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic.  Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. A logarithm is a quantity representing the power to which a fixed number (the bas …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

March 26th, 2021

Abaye and Rava were seated before Rabba. Rabba said to them: To whom does one recite brochos? They said to him: To Rachmana [the Merciful, i.e. Hashem]. Rabba asked them: And where does Rachmana reside? Rava pointed to the ceiling. Abaye went outside and pointed toward the heavens. Rabba said to them: You will both become Rabbis.  It is as people say: A cucumber can be recognized from its blossom.  (Brachos 48a) Abaye and Rava were chil …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

March 18th, 2021

Ben Zoma says...Eizehu ashir?  Hasomeach b’chelko.  Who is wise?  One who is someach with his portion.  (Avos 4:1) Someach.  What does that mean? Someach is often translated as joyful.  How often can we joyfully celebrate our portion?  Rav Nachman of Breslov famously taught that it is a great mitzvah to be in a state of simcha always!  Does he mean that we should always be joyful?   Maybe no …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

March 11th, 2021

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi would recite these verses [Tehilim 90] until he fell asleep. How could he do that?  Didn’t Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi [himself] say: One is forbidden to heal himself with words of Torah?  Prevention from harm is different.   (Shavuos 15b) It is permitted to use words of Torah, including Tanach, to prevent harm even though it is not permitted for healing.  During a visit to Boston in 1733, Benjam …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

March 4th, 2021

Vaiyageid Moshe: D’vorim sh’mosheichin libo shel adom k’aggodah. V’ika d'omrei: b’techiloh peireish matan s’choroh, dichsiv: vayeshev Moshe, d’vorim sh’meshivin da'to shel odom, ul’vasof peireish on’shoh, dichsiv: vaiyageid Moshe — devorim sh’koshin l’adom k’gidin. (Shabbos 87a) Kegidin: Yerek mar, a bitter vegetable.  (Rashi, ibid)   This Gemara tells u …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

February 27th, 2021

As a parent, you chose your child’s Yeshiva carefully.  You met with the hanhala and with his rebbeim.  I would like to introduce the men and women of the office, food service, and custodial staff at the Yeshiva and tell you a little bit about them.  Their names are quite familiar to your son. Ella E. Itmar offers more accurate information. Chava Ameena sounds good but her ideas never pan out. Tanner Kama is quick, always fir …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

February 27th, 2021

The following true story took place in a recent year, BCE, Before Covid Era.  It is reprinted with the kind permission of Rabbi Yitzie Ross, a writer and fourth grade rebbe. A boy who is in 2nd grade won a donut from his Rebbe on Sunday [two weeks before Pesach].  He had answered a very difficult question in class and was on cloud nine. When his mother came for pickup, he ran over with his donut and a huge smile.  Before he could e …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

February 21st, 2021

Chanoch l’naar al pi darko.  (Mishlei 22:6) Mishlei teaches us that each person has his or her own derech and requires chinuch to grow into the next developmental stage based on their derech at each time of their lives.   We are most likely to help a child or adult grow when we know that individual’s temperament, cognitive level, and emotional state, and we adjust our chinuch accordingly, not based solely on how old the …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

February 20th, 2021

Tovim hashnayim min ha'echod asher yeish lahem sochor tov ba'amolom.  Ki im yipolu, ho'echod yokim es-chaveiro, v'ilo, ho'echod she’yipol, v'ein sheini lahakimo. Gam im yishkvu shnayim v’cham lohem, ul'echod eich yeichom. Two are better than one, since they have good reward for their efforts. For if they fall, one will lift up his friend, but woe to one who falls and has no one to stand him up. Moreover, if two lie down, they wil …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

February 15th, 2021

What do you do when counting to three no longer works its magic?  What is your next step when you talk and your child listens and you listen to your child’s talk and bedtime is still a struggle? Make a chart! The use of charts is not limited to the issue of bedtime.  Charts may be effective in addressing many issues parents have with their children. Charts are effective when they are used appropriately and properly.  They fai …
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