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 | Apr 26, 2013 | Emor
In today’s parsha we read about the various restrictions applying to kohanim (or “priests”, although I am uncomfortable with this translation, for reasons which will become clear). For example, a kohen may not “contaminate himself”...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | Apr 29, 2011 | Kedoshim
I ask myself regularly if I really want to be holy. In the year 1930 the Chofetz Chaim traveled to Vilna. He went to speak in the oldest and most central Shul in Vilna. In honor of the Gadol HaDor all the candles were lit and the tall beams that held up the roof were...
by Rabbi Yaacov Haber | May 4, 2000 | Kedoshim
About six years ago I took my family on a trip to the outback of Australia. We drove hours away from civilization to visit a friend of mine, an artist, who lived alone on 700 acres of what they call Down Under, the bush. After driving without a road and eventually...
