Rabbi Sender Haber

Rabbi, Monsey, NY
Yehudah!

Yehudah!

So much of the parsha centers on Yosef, but I think it is important for us to think about Yehudah as well. The Parsha begins with a showdown between Yehudah and Yosef. Besides for the immediate issue of Binyamin, there was a natural friction between the two of them....
Compassion

Compassion

The daughters of Tzelafched were upset because their father had died and there was nobody to inherit his land. They approached “Moshe, Elazar, and the heads of the tribes with their query” (27:1-2). This seems odd. Once they approached Moshe, why would they approach...
Devarim Nechmadim on Avos: Chapter Six (Shavuos)

Devarim Nechmadim on Avos: Chapter Six (Shavuos)

Our Chapter “The Sages taught in the language of the Mishna”. The sixth chapter is not really a part of Pirkei Avos. It is a Braisa entitled “The acquisition of Torah” that was appended by Rav Meir after the sealing of the Mishna. The theme of this chapter is Torah...
Counting

Counting

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 –...