blogs/rabbi-huberman

Parashah Shmini

As a grandfather of a three-year-old, I’ve become reacquainted with Sesame Street, a program many of us were either raised on or watched with our children.

So, it’s my pleasure to inform you, that this week’s Torah portion is brought to you by the Number 8.

Why is this worthy of mention? Perhaps because within Judaism, numbers play such an...Read more...

The Rabbi is not available this Shabbat. His e-sermon will continue next week. In its place, here is his sermon from 2020 on this week’s parashah.

It was Rosh Hashanah, about 15 years ago, when — as is the custom when we return the Torah to the ark — I began walking up and down our sanctuary aisles wishing...Read more...

Parashah Pekudei

One of the greatest casualties we face today is the loss of faith in those we once trusted.

There was a time when — as a rule — governments, their leaders, and those who spoke for them were inspired by value systems, but recently too many regimes have abused their power to pursue campaigns of self-interest.

This is not new.

Jewish tradition took note of...Read more...

Parashah Ki Tissa 

The Rabbi is currently out of the country. His weekly e-sermon will resume in two weeks. Until then, here is a previous e-sermon, reprinted from 2017, on this week’s Torah portion — Ki Tissa — (“When you take.")

At a conference last year on future trends in Judaism, one of the presenters — a rabbi — told of how he had aroused the fury of one of his...Read more...

Parashah Terumah
“Build a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)

“What am I doing here?”

The question came up recently as I sat with a congregant during lunch, musing over life’s perpetual swing between triumph and challenge.

We arise each day and engage in life’s routines, hoping to add new experiences and meaning along the way.

But there are...Read more...