Abrahams Heroism (Gevurah)
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5747 (1986), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. In this week's parsha we read that Abraham (or Abram), notwithstanding all his spiritual and material progress, was...
Making The Heart Decisions
The children of Korach were in a dilemma. They were sitting with their father when Moshe and his entourage walked by. Who could not stand up for Moshe? On the other hand, they knew how their father Korach felt toward Moshe. They knew if they stood up for the leader of...
“Just Kill Me Now!”
Moses was the quintessential leader. He fearlessly served our people as a shepherd, teacher, coach and of course a prophet at every moment of every day. Time after time he represented us before G-d, he defended us before G-d, and he argued with G-d on our behalf....
The Challenge of Chosenness
After the Nazis invaded the small village of Klausenberg, they began to celebrate in their usual sadistic fashion. They gathered the Jews into a circle in the center of town, and then paraded their Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusial Yehuda Halberstam, into the center. They began...
The Company Man
"Do not shame My holy name; sanctify me amongst the people of Israel, I am G-d." (Vayikra 22; 32) This is a strange juxtaposition. Chillul Hashem is the biggest aveira. Kiddush Hashem is the biggest mitzva. One would think that the person prone to making a Chillul...
Israel Independence Day
I originally wrote this article in 2008 but as I review it and read the headlines of the Israeli newspapers it seems even more relevant today. There is nothing that brings out my identity crises more than living in Eretz Yisroel on Yom Haatzmaut. This week a large...
Fire At the Seder
One of the great heroes of the Holocaust was Reb Kalman Klonymus Shapiro, the Piazetzner Rebbe. In the prime of his life as a Rebbe he was taken into the hell of the Warsaw Ghetto. He had a work load like everyone else, suffered from malnutrition, and was surrounded...
God Called Him Moshe
God called him Moshe The name “Moshe” is perhaps the most famous name in Jewish history. Moshe saved the Jewish people; Moshe performed miracles; Moshe told us how to act; Moshe brought us the Torah; Moshe led us through the desert. It is significant to note that...
In the Merit of Esav
In this week's parsha we read about the fateful meeting between Jacob and Esau. Jacob, on learning that Esau is approaching with four hundred men, "was very afraid and distressed" (Gen. 32:8), fearing that Esau might want to kill him for his previous behavior over the...