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...
What Goes Up Must Come Down
If civil war breaks out in Rwanda, it might be because we couldn't find it in our heart to forgive our brother, spouse or neighbor. Jacob dreamed of a ladder. In the dream Angels of G-d climbed up the ladder and then Angels came back down. Angels originate in the...
It’s Only Beans!
Yaacov saw the big picture. Esav saw a bowl of beans. Yaacov saw the big picture; he saw the unfolding of Jewish history. Esav saw a bowl of beans. This is both the story and the message of this week's Parsha. Its not that Esav didn't appreciate his...
Finding the Sparks
The Chasidim speak about raising the sparks. During the process of creation holy sparks flew out of their targets and landed in some of the most unlikely places on Earth. One of the main functions of man is to find these holy sparks, remove them from their unholy...
Abraham’s Retirement Package
For Avrohom Avinu, at ninety nine years old things started popping. When we think about a Bris Milah we immediately conjure up images of a new life, a new beginning and a fresh start. Our Parsha begins when Avrohom Avinu was ninety-nine years old. He had just had a...
Do We Really Believe in God?
We talk and act as if we believe in God but do we really believe? Noach built an ark, gathered animals even devoted his life to warning people about the great flood.
Responsible Chinuch
A Shabbos Shuva Drosha by Rabbi Yaacov Haber, Ramat Beit Shemesh 5770 I remember as a child growing up in ‘anywhere USA’ meeting two shluchim of Torah U’mesorah. They had come to our town to talk to parents about sending their children to a Yeshivah. They were...
Rosh Hashana
Close your eyes and imagine what the world must have looked like on the first day of creation. Pristine, fresh, untainted, healthy and unpolluted. Man is created. He is naive, pure and innocent. His face shines from the goodness of his unadulterated soul. His tongue...
