A while ago I coined a new term; "Ephronic". It refers to some one who talks and talks about the good they are going to do but in the end do absolutely nothing. Whether it be an act of charity, personal weight loss diet, a physical or spiritual fitness plan - these...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5747 (1986), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. In this week's parsha we read that Abraham (or Abram), notwithstanding all his spiritual and material progress, was...
In this week's parsha we read about the fateful meeting between Jacob and Esau. Jacob, on learning that Esau is approaching with four hundred men, "was very afraid and distressed" (Gen. 32:8), fearing that Esau might want to kill him for his previous behavior over the...
If civil war breaks out in Rwanda, it might be because we couldn't find it in our heart to forgive our brother, spouse or neighbor. Jacob dreamed of a ladder. In the dream Angels of G-d climbed up the ladder and then Angels came back down. Angels originate in the...
Yaacov saw the big picture. Esav saw a bowl of beans. Yaacov saw the big picture; he saw the unfolding of Jewish history. Esav saw a bowl of beans. This is both the story and the message of this week's Parsha. Its not that Esav didn't appreciate his...
The Chasidim speak about raising the sparks. During the process of creation holy sparks flew out of their targets and landed in some of the most unlikely places on Earth. One of the main functions of man is to find these holy sparks, remove them from their unholy...
For Avrohom Avinu, at ninety nine years old things started popping. When we think about a Bris Milah we immediately conjure up images of a new life, a new beginning and a fresh start. Our Parsha begins when Avrohom Avinu was ninety-nine years old. He had just had a...
We talk and act as if we believe in God but do we really believe? Noach built an ark, gathered animals even devoted his life to warning people about the great flood.
Being that we have the privilege of living in Israel , I’ve been getting many calls from concerned friends and family that want to know the feeling in Israel over the war in Gaza. Truth be told, I am no political expert (I hope the people making the decisions are) and...
"And Yaakov went out…" I picture our father Yaakov leaving Beer Sheva all alone. As his ancestors before him he was walking from Southern Israel to Charan, (the area of Turkey) to search for and discover his marriage partner. He was around eighty years old as he...
As I prepare this essay the world is in the middle of a nightmare in Mumbai. Innocent people were slaughtered, hostages have been taken and closer to home, we are all praying for a miracle for those that have dedicated their lives to Ahavat Yisroel manning a Chabad...
Prince Rudolph, son and heir to the Austrian monarch Franz Josef, visited Palestine at the turn of the century and recounted his trip to Chevron in his memoirs: Upon reaching Hebron I immediately went to the cave of Machpela. There I was overwhelmed at the realization...
The following Dvar Torah was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Vayera 5747, (1986), and transcribed from memory by Dr. Jeffery Zucker. We dedicate this essay in memory of Jeff's mother Ita bat Shalom, A"H, who shares her Yortzeit with Rochel Imeinu....
There have never been as many institutions of Torah as there are today. Schools that were started then have record attendance. For those that took advantage of the time and rebuilt Yiddishkeit, Yiddishkeit was built. For those who put their energies into other movements and projects, they too succeeded. In under fifty years, as in Noah’s vineyard, a miracle has occurred.
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...
Imagine going to sleep and having the most spectacular dream humanly possible. Yaacov dreamt of a ladder standing with its feet planted firmly in the ground extending deep into the heavens. This became the trademark for spirituality. On it walked Angels of G-d. They...
Something occurred to me today. Why are we all different? Why do we all have different talents, natural skills and different likings? The answer is because we all have a different contribution to make. It is our unique abilities that define the contribution we need to...
Abraham saved the world Noah saved himself. Although Noah was a righteous man and did whatever G-d told him to do, Noah’s silence was deafening. As far as we can know, all the years of Noah he didn’t say a word! G-d told him to build a boat – he built a boat. G-d told...
Abraham saved the world Noah saved himself. Although Noah was a righteous man and did whatever G-d told him to do, Noah’s silence was deafening. As far as we can know, all the years of Noah he didn’t say a word! G-d told him to build a boat – he built a boat. G-d told...
The rainbow symbolizes peace because it demonstrates how so many can become one. It symbolizes curse because it shows how one can be divided into so many. Noach and his family emerged from their ark and saw a rainbow. The rainbow represented a covenant of peace...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Vayera, 5748 (1987), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. The Torah relates a heart-rending story. Abraham evicts Hagar and his son Ishmael from his house. He supplies them with...
Friday is my busiest day, especially since we changed the clock. Last Friday I received a call from someone who needed to talk. It was a stranger who had been recommended to me by a local therapist. I suggested some possible times for a meeting - Saturday night,...
When we think about a bris milah we immediately conjure up images of a new life, a new beginning and a fresh start. Our Parsha begins when Avrohom Avinu was ninety-nine years old. He had just had a Bris Milah. It is difficult to consider ninety-nine years old a new...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha by Rabbi Yaacov Haber, and transcribed from memory by David Sher. This weeks Torah portion describes how Abraham performed the Mitzvah of Bris Milah on himself. Our sages list...
I'm going to give you Eretz Yisroel; it will be yours and your children’s. This is what G-d said to Abraham. G-d said this to Abraham in person; Abraham didn’t have to rely on Mesorah, transmission or old texts. Hashem said it to him and Abraham heard it. Abraham’s...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5749 (1988), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. in today's parsha we read about Abram's travels. He did not travel alone. Apart from his many followers, he had three...
I'm going to give you Eretz Yisroel; it will be yours and your children’s. This is what G-d said to Abraham. G-d said this to Abraham in person; Abraham didn’t have to rely on Mesorah, transmission or old texts. Hashem said it to him and Abraham heard it. Abraham’s...
Noach spent 120 years building an ark, deliberately stretching it out so that people would ask questions, hear about the oncoming world crisis and repent. For one hundred and twenty years Noach prophesied the end of the world --yet not even one single Baal Teshuvah....
Today we review the story of Abraham, the founding father of Judaism. From what we know about Avrohom Avinu we can be very proud of our roots. Avrohom was a great philosopher. Avrohom was a great teacher. Avrohom was a man of unyielding principals - ready to give up...
"Sarah was a hundred years and twenty years and seven years, these were the years of Sarah" (Bereishis 23:1). Rashi comments that from the unusual phraseology we learn that all her years were good. "Abraham was a hundred years and seventy years and five years" (ibid....