by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 14, 1987 | Va'eira
In this week’s parsha, we learn about the ancestry of Moses and Aaron. “And Amram married Jochebed his aunt, and she bore him Aaron and Moses.” Such a union is forbidden by the Torah (Levit. 18:12). Although this marriage took place before the Giving...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 14, 1987 | Vayechi
In this week’s parsha we read how Jacob distributed his inheritance among his twelve sons. An interesting aspect of this is that Jacob gives an extra portion (of his blessings) not to his firstborn Reuben (as one should, according to halacha), but to Joseph...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 14, 1987 | Vayeshev
In today’s parsha we read how, after the brothers had sold Joseph into slavery, Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons, the first two of whom, Er and Onan, died because of their sins, and then shortly thereafter his wife died. The Sforno explains...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 14, 1987 | Vayetzei
When one looks through a parsha, one can find inspiration in the most unexpected places. When I read through this week’s parsha recently, I was struck, for the first time, by the sentences near the end (after Laban’s reconciliation with Jacob): “And...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 11, 1987 | Noach
While reading this week’s parsha recently, I was struck by something that I had not noticed before. Rashi says that it took 120 years for Noah to build the ark, and asks the question: Why did G-d make Noah go to all this trouble? He gives the answer: so that...
