by Rabbi Sender Haber | May 22, 2015
We know that the Jewish people were never counted directly. Each Jew would give a half-shekel coin and that Half-shekel coin would be counted. This is the halacha until today. We do not count Jews. We can count hats and lists of names and possibly noses or fingers –...
by Rabbi Sender Haber | May 17, 2015
Ten Utterances The Mishna teaches us that the world was created with “Ten Utterances”. G-d made ten verbal statements that brought the world into being. This is to teach us that the righteous who uphold the world will get reward and the evildoers who destroy it will...
by Rabbi Sender Haber | May 15, 2015
Ben Zoma and Ben Azzai Shimon ben Zoman and Shimon ben Azai were two outstanding scholars in their generation. Both passed away at a young age before they had attained the title of ‘Rabi’. Ben Zoma is noted for his intellect. The Talmud tells us that if someone saw...
by Rabbi Sender Haber | May 15, 2015
Yosi Ben Yochanan was the Head of the Rabbinic Court. He and Yosi Ben Yoezer led the Jewish people for a generation. Both were charged with continuing the legacy of Antigonus Ish Socho that had been so true and yet so ill received by some of their peers. Yosi Ben...
by Rabbi Sender Haber | May 8, 2015
After generations of a single ruler, the Jewish People were now led by two great men: Yosi ben Yoezer and Yosi ben Yochanan. They only differed on one Halachic point, but their approaches to Judaism and to leadership were very different. Yosi ben Yoezer said, “Make...
