blogs/rabbi-huberman

Parashah Beshalach
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933

There was tension in the alley that afternoon, as Robert picked up his bowling ball and set his sights on the 10 perfectly spaced pins in front of him.

“How many points am I behind?” he asked as he stepped up toward the lane.

“I think he’s 14 points ahead,” I...Read more...

Parashah Va'era
“I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites." (Exodus 6:5)

The Talmud tells a story of a heated debate between the rabbis about whether or not a newfangled oven is kosher.

As tempers flare, the great Rabbi Eliezer calls upon God to support his view that the oven is kosher. Meanwhile, all the other rabbis insist it is...Read more...

Parashah Vayechi
"When Jacob was told, ‘Your son Joseph has come to see you,’ he summoned his strength and sat up in bed.” (Genesis 48:2)

For almost 12 weeks we’ve been reading individual stories about our ancient ancestors. This week — for the first time — the Torah turns its attention to a topic that, like it or not, will affect each of us.

Illness.

And...Read more...

The great writer, Mark Twain, described his battle to quit smoking this way: “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.”

How true it is for many of us, as we commit to change in our lives, but end up dropping the ball before reaching our goal.

We begin a work project with full head of steam — only to slow down...Read more...

Parashah Vayetzei
“Surely, the Lord is present in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16)

I want to tell you about the first time I saw God.

It was a summer day — I must have been about six years old — and as I lifted my lips from my melting fudgesicle and looked through the clouds at the partially blue sky, I was sure I saw God’s face.

Was it the vision...Read more...