Rabbi Sender Haber

Rabbi, Monsey, NY

Sukkos: Rosh Hashana for Aveiros

The Medrash writes that Sukkos is the Rosh Hashana for Aveiros, the New Year for Sins. The freshness and purity of Yom Kippur remain untainted in the days leading up to Sukkos. We are too busy preparing for the holiday to do anything wrong. It is only on the first day...

Be Matir Neder

I had lived in Norfolk for a while when I met a “frum looking” Jew that I had never seen before. After the usual greetings, I asked him if he would like to spend some time learning with me once or twice a week. He responded in the affirmative and soon he was coming to...

The Door

Calvin Bakov supplies liqueur to the military. He owns thousands of dollars in alcohol which he keeps in his warehouse. He is not allowed to touch it. Because the liqueur is exempt from certain taxes, the government keeps Mr. Bakov’s property under lock and key....

The Cry of the Shofar

The Talmud tells us that the pattern of shofar blowing in each congregation evolved over time. The long, trumpet-like tekiah was used by all, but the teruah took on many different forms, varying with time and geographic location. Amazingly, after several generations...

Elul Smackdown

I got a letter from a Yeshiva. They don’t feel that their dinner is worthwhile so they are just sending out nice letters asking everyone to match last years donation. The assumption is that nobody is really interested in Dinner anyway. In contrast, two guys in...