by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Aug 7, 2015 | Ekev, Elul
The three weeks and the nine days are behind us and the High Holidays are not yet here. So, it’s party time. Concerts, barbecues, hiking and a lot of junk food in the Mountains. The Catskills have the feel of a Jewish Woodstock. It is a break between crisis and...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jul 24, 2015 | The 3 Weeks, Tisha B'Av
Some years ago while serving as a Rabbi in Buffalo, New York I remember standing at my place in Shul, Sunday morning, seeing the large oak door to the Shul open a crack. There at the door was an elderly woman, a member of the congregation, who was motioning for me to...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jul 17, 2015 | Matot, Massei
“We love Torah and we love G-d, but we can’t live together with the rest of the Jewish people. We are willing to support you, teach you, do business with you; we’ll even fight in your wars! But we need our own space.” These were the words of...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jul 10, 2015 | Pinchas
The lesson of Pinchas is to find our moment; to find our purpose; and to find our Neshama that is uniquely ours. When we find that moment we can’t be afraid. Heroes are men and women that are not afraid. Histories greatest achievements were accomplished by those...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jun 26, 2015 | Shemini
The Parah Adumah or Red Heifer is the classic example of a Mitzvah which is beyond our comprehension. As described in the Bamidbar (19:1-22), the cow had to be slaughtered outside the camp and its blood sprinkled in the direction of the holy of holies in the...
