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Since My Bar Mitzvah #690

08/27/2021 05:47:00 PM

Aug27

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Ki Tavo
“I, the Lord, will speed it in due time.” (Isaiah 60:22)

Since My Bar Mitzvah

Like many bar mitzvah students, I passed through my special day in 1966 with very little spiritual connection to the words I recited.

In those days, bar mitzvahs were endured. I was taught by my father to chant some Hebrew words, which I did not understand. The idea was to get through...Read more...

The Case Against Hoarding #689

08/20/2021 04:50:00 PM

Aug20

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Ki Teitzel
“When you enter another's vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you want, until you are full, but you must not put any in your vessel.” (Deuteronomy 23:25)

The Case Against Hoarding

Last Sunday, with the sun shining and the temperature just right, we decided to pay a few visits to local car dealerships.

For those of you who live outside of Glen Cove, our community was once part of the Gold...Read more...

Story of the Sinking Boat#688

08/13/2021 05:00:00 PM

Aug13

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Shoftim
“Righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:18)

Story of the Sinking Boat

There is a story in the Midrash — our collection of ancient stories and interpretations — about a group of people traveling on a ship.

As the boat sets sail, one of the passengers pulls out a drill and begins drilling under his seat. Perhaps he wanted to fish or gather wood for a...Read more...

Yes, No. Calling Women to the Torah #687

08/06/2021 02:34:00 PM

Aug6

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Re'eh
“All Jews count toward the seven prescribed readers — even a minor and even a women….” (Talmud, Megillah 23a)

Yes, No. Calling Women to the Torah

I am often asked, “Why do Conservative and Reform Judaism enable women to be called to the Torah — but Orthodox Judaism does not?”

It’s a passionate topic. Conservative and Reform rabbis point to the need to realign...Read more...

The Pursuit of Kindness #686

07/30/2021 06:44:00 PM

Jul30

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Eikev
The LORD will establish you as His holy people, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. (Deuteronomy 28:9)

The Pursuit of Kindness

The other day, I was thinking about the evolution of magazines. You remember magazines.

We’ve evolved from Life and Look magazines — established during the mid-1930s — which, through...Read more...

Who Inspired Your Judaism? #685

07/23/2021 06:35:00 PM

Jul23

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

“Teach these words to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:7

Who Inspired Your Judaism?

Stop and think for a moment. Who, in your past, taught you the most about being Jewish?

Was it a parent, grandparent, teacher, rabbi, cantor, friend or even a stranger?

And what was the greatest lesson that person...Read more...

Are Jews the Eternal Victim? #684

07/16/2021 04:50:00 PM

Jul16

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Tisha B'Av, 2021 Are Jews the Eternal Victim?

I have a choice when I wake up each morning.

I can greet the day with hope and optimism, or I can convince myself — as I sip my first cup of coffee — that, “everyone will be out to get me today.”

It happens. We are a little late for work or an appointment, and we try to race a green light, which, to our frustration, turns red.

Then, we manage to hit every...Read more...

Mind Your Own Business #683

06/25/2021 04:42:00 PM

Jun25

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Balak

“How lovely are your tents, people of Jacob.” (Numbers 24:5)

Mind Your Own Business

We live in a world where, it seems, everyone is looking over your shoulder.

Internet-based companies track your searches and your shopping habits, and then target specific ads and promotions to extract more business from you.

A recently released Apple ad draws on a 40-year-old song by the group, Delta 5,...Read more...

Investing More in Seniors #682

06/18/2021 05:12:00 PM

Jun18

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Chukat

“You are not obliged to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16)

Investing More in Seniors

I had a minor revelation this week while having lunch with a colleague who is writing a book focused on Torah wisdom for seniors.

We as Jews dedicate so much of our educational resources toward children, who we rightly regard as the beacons of our future.

But...Read more...

Korach, Leadership and Shimon Peres #681

06/11/2021 05:40:08 PM

Jun11

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

Parashat Korach

“Why do you raise yourselves above the Lord’s congregation?” (Numbers 13:3)

Korach, Leadership and Shimon Peres

This week’s Torah portion poses a question particularly germane to the political climate we are currently enduring.

Do we want leaders who assume their positions reluctantly, or should we rally behind those who claim, “I can do it better?”

This week’s Torah portion...Read more...

Sun, November 24 2024 23 Cheshvan 5785