by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jan 20, 2012 | Va'eira
The hopeful and encouraging words of Moshe fell flat. “I have come to set you free! G-d has made me a messenger to facilitate the Geula!” But They did not listen to Moshe because of shortness of breath, kotzer ruach, and because of strenuous work. What is...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Dec 16, 2011 | Vayeshev
Shmuel Fixler A”H, a wonderful Jew who lived in Buffalo, NY, when I served as Rabbi there, once taught me a valuable lesson. Reb Shmuel was a Holocaust survivor. He had been through Hell, and the Nazis not only murdered most of his family, they also killed his...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Dec 8, 2011 | Vayishlach
Lately, I’ve been intrigued by the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, Yaakov and Esav. The actual struggle between these two brothers became the prototype of the Jewish struggle with myriads of outside forces and enemies that wanted to destroy us....
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 3, 2011 | Lech Lecha
We know about giving up some of our personal comfort to help someone else. We know about giving up some of our spirituality to save a life or to help another human being live healthier. We even know about giving up personal comfort to help someone spiritually. But how...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 12, 2011 | Sukkot
In Talmudic times the Sukos dancing at the Simchas Beis Hashoeva was reserved for the leaders of the generation. This was a Simcha the likes of which no other simcha can be compared. Raban Shimon ben Gamliel would dance in the middle. The Talmud reports that he would...
