by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 29, 2013 | Chanukah
I was thinking about Chanuka, and a new idea occurred to me. Chanuka, the Festival of Lights, occurs at the darkest time of the year — the time when you would least expect it. And this is an important characteristic of Judaism: that light, and holiness, occur...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 22, 2013 | Vayeshev
If the sons of Yaakov were such great men why did they want to kill their brother? The sons of Yaakov were all great men. The Medrash draws a metaphor to a king who wanted to build a beautiful palace. He tried building it on one support pillar and it collapsed. On...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 15, 2013 | Vayishlach
Bad enough for Yaakov to have to struggle with Esav and constantly have to watch his back. In this weeks Parsha we find a new struggle. Yaakov has to struggle with Esav’s Malach also. It’s a bizarre story. Yaakov meets up with an Angel and gets into a fight. He...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 1, 2013 | Toldot
In this week’s parsha, we read how Isaac married Rebecca. “And Isaac entreated the L-rd opposite [`lenochach’] his wife, because she was barren; and the L-rd let Himself be entreated by him, and Rebecca his wife conceived” (Gen. 25:21). Rashi...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 25, 2013 | Chayei Sarah
When I was a young Yeshiva bochur I was impressed with intelligence. I looked at the Gedolim and was in awe of their intellect. They seemed to know everything. Now, as I get older I’m less impressed with intellect and much more taken with their kindness. People tell...
