Why did G-D create us? Are we out here for a reason? What is our mission in this world? ______________________________________________ https://youtu.be/dQGOkyTHxH8
The Perils Of Sophistry
I often decide if I like someone by their eyes and their smile Right and wrong used to be obvious. Truth was self-evident. The will of G-d was clear. There was a holy reaction straight from the soul. There was a strong sense of right and wrong. There was an outpouring...
Time For Renewal
A couple of years ago I had the great honor of being called up for Choson Torah in Jerusalem. It was an emotional moment. Often an Aliya is a celebration of a new relationship such as a new child or grandchild, a new Choson or Kalah. This Aliya was a celebration of a...
Restart-Up Nation | Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Parshas Bereishis 5780
Join Rabbi Yaacov Haber for 3 minutes in ushering in Shabbos with his insight to Parshas Berieshis.
Turning on G-d’s light
Our function in this world is to activate G-d's light. G-d said: "Light the Menorah and the world will see that it is not I that illuminate the world but you." (Medrash Shmos Rabba 36;2) When the world was created G-d said "Let there be light!" From the beginning of...
Tradition vs. Creativity
Adam and Eve had three sons. The first two were the famous Cain and Abel. The third is introduced in the following manner. "When Adam had lived 130 years, he begot a son in his likeness after his image [bid'muso k'tsalmo], and named him Seth" (Gen. 5:3). Similar...
Raising Cain
The first few chapters of the Torah tell us the story of the family of man. It all started, of course, with Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel were born; Cain killed Abel; Cain had a family and Abel had no descendants. Adam and Eve continued their process of procreation and...
Time For Renewal
A couple of years ago I had the great honor of being called up for Choson Torah in Jerusalem. It was an emotional moment. Often an Aliya is a celebration of a new relationship such as a new child or grandchild, a new Choson or Kalah. This Aliya was a celebration of a...
The Information Age
There is a story I have been selling all week. Someone came to his Rabbi with a serious problem. Yom Kippur is coming and the Mets game comes out the same time as Kol Nidrei! The Rabbi put his arm comfortingly on the shoulder of his congregant and said Marvin, what...
How Much Are You Worth?
In the story of the Creation of the world, it is recorded that "G-d blessed the seventh day" (Gen. 2:3). How did He bless the Sabbath? According to Rashi, He blessed it with manna, by providing a double portion on Fridays, while the Israelites were in the desert. This...
Which Side is G-d On?
In Koheles (Ecclesiastes), the book of Solomon's wisdom, there appears the statement: "ve-H' yevakesh es-nirdaf", (Eccl. 3:15), which can be translated as: "And G-d seeks out him who is pursued", or perhaps: "And G-d favors the underdog". The Midrash quotes R. Yossi...
Why Did Cayin Kill Hevel?
Isn't it amazing that the first and most profound murder in world history was committed because someone wanted to get closer to G-d?! The two brothers were dividing up the world and the question of the Beit HaMikdash came up. Of course each one of the brothers...
A Prophecy for All Times
Why Breishis needed to be written and the difference between the Written Law and the Oral Law
Given in Melbourne, Australia Shavous 1991.