by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Nov 29, 2013 | Chanukah
I was thinking about Chanuka, and a new idea occurred to me. Chanuka, the Festival of Lights, occurs at the darkest time of the year — the time when you would least expect it. And this is an important characteristic of Judaism: that light, and holiness, occur...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jul 19, 2013 | V'etchanan
In many circles Shabbos Nachamu spells vacation. The great summer breather. The three weeks and the nine days are behind us and the High Holidays are not yet here. So, it’s party time. Concerts, barbecues, hiking and a lot of junk food in the Mountains. The Catskills...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Jan 4, 2013 | Shemot
There is an interesting story told in the Book of Judges, Chapter 17. A certain woman left her fortune to her son Michiyahu for the purpose of setting up an idolatorous cult. He had a fancy idol and a temple built for this purpose, but could not find a priest to lead...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Oct 26, 2012 | Lech Lecha
“Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land…” (Yechezkel 33; 24) ??? ??? ????? Abraham was alone, he was lonely, he was only one. He was alone in his fight against paganism; he was alone on his march of monotheism; and he was alone in his profound understanding...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Aug 17, 2012 | Re'eh, Elul
Here we are getting ready to usher in the last month of the year. There is a vast amount of discussion and literature on how to start off the year and very little about how to end it. Even the last month of the year Elul, has been marketed as the preparation for the...
