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The Most Famous Blessing of All #781

06/02/2023 02:03:00 PM

Jun2

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Nasso The Most Famous Blessing of All

In 1979, archaeologist Gabriel Barkay was examining ancient burial caves at Ketef Hinnom—a sacred site just outside of Jerusalem.

It was a hot summer day, as Barkay and his young assistant, Nattan, rummaged through several dusty damp chambers.

Each was busy working on his own section of the site, when suddenly Barkay...Read more...

Your "Other" Marriage Contract #780

05/30/2023 12:19:57 PM

May30

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Shavuot Your "Other" Wedding Contract

Today — Shavuot — marks the wedding anniversary between the Jewish people and God. 

It is probably the most important Jewish holiday. Yet, ironically, most people have never heard of it.

If you were to ask most people what holiday we are celebrating this weekend, chances they would answer "Memorial Day."

You are not alone.

Indeed, if...Read more...

Echoes of Michael Jackson  #779

05/19/2023 05:03:20 PM

May19

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Barmidbar   Echoes of Michael Jackson

If you’ve spent most of your life living outside New York, visiting “the city” can be daunting.

And so, it was—about 20 years ago—when I began visiting New York in search of a rabbinical school that would be right for me.

Early one Monday afternoon, as I left the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) after a half day of touring and attending...Read more...

The Legacy of Lesley Sue Goldstein  #778

05/12/2023 05:12:00 AM

May12

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Behar-Bechukotai “You shall proclaim release throughout the land for all of its inhabitants.”  (Leviticus 25:10) The legacy of Lesley Sue Goldstein

In 1963, at 17, a singer named Lesley Sue Goldstein recorded a song, which in many ways came to define the feminist movement.

The song was written by John Madara and David White, who searched unsuccessfully for someone to perform it until it caught...Read more...

Eye for an Eye: Leaving Revenge Behind  #777

05/05/2023 05:09:00 PM

May5

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Emor “If anyone maims his fellow, as he has done, so shall it be done to him; fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” (Leviticus 24:18-19). Eye For Eye: Leaving Revenge Behind

Villager: We should defend ourselves. An eye for an eye—A tooth for a tooth! Tevya: Very good. That way the whole world will be blind and toothless.

This brief exchange between the villager and Tevya portrays...Read more...

Hogan's Heroes, Israel & the Holocaust #776

04/28/2023 03:39:00 PM

Apr28

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Hogan’s Heroes, Israel & the Holocaust

This week, a tightly packed manila envelope arrived at our home. When I opened it, it smelled a bit like 1966.

I had ordered its contents from eBay a week earlier, sparked by a vague memory triggered by the recent passing of legendary Mad Magazine cartoonist Al Jaffee.

As a young person, every month I would scan the magazine rack...Read more...

The Sound of silence #774

04/14/2023 05:22:00 PM

Apr14

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Shemini "And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains, within the sound of silence."   Paul Simon The Sound of silence

On December 29, 2011, I decided to attend the funeral in Montreal—of a rabbinical colleague’s mother, who happened to be the late-life companion of my uncle.

It seemed like the right thing to do.

What better way to comfort both my close friend and my uncle than...Read more...

Passover: Eating from the Kid's Menu #773

04/07/2023 01:43:00 PM

Apr7

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Intermediated Passover Shabbat   Passover: Eating from the Kid's Menu

This past week, as clergy throughout the area were asked by the media for their Passover or Easter messages, I was particularly moved by the words of one rabbi.

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz noted, “Kids today are spiritually ravenous, but institutionally suspicious.”

His words cut to the core of what many term a crisis within religion.Kids...Read more...

Passover After the Plague  #772

03/31/2023 05:19:00 PM

Mar31

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Shabbat HaGadol: The Big Pre-Pesach Shabbat   Passover after the plague

It’s been almost three years to the day, that each of us entered one of the most fragile and uncertain periods of our lives.

Do you remember Passover, 2020?

What was this plague that afflicted us? There were so many questions—so many unknowns.

Would we, our family and friends survive? What about humanity? Who would protect us?...Read more...

Life:  We are Never Done #771

03/24/2023 05:17:00 PM

Mar24

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

  Parashat Vayikra   Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai received [the oral tradition] from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say: if you have learned much Torah, do not claim credit for yourself, because for such a purpose were you created. (Pirkei Avot 2:8)   Life: we are never done

There is a life philosophy which I hold dear.

I believe in the Kabbalistic teaching that each of us has something unique to contribute to the...Read more...

Sat, October 11 2025 19 Tishrei 5786