blogs/rabbi-huberman

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...

Parashah Yitro
“You are standing today all of you before your God….from the chopper of your wood to the drawer of your water.” (Deuteronomy 29:11)

This past Monday, Judaism welcomed its newest member. 

Her Hebrew name is Elisheva, who earlier this week traveled to Manhattan where, at the West Side Mikvah, she submerged, thus completing her Jewish conversion.

We met on...Read more...

Parashah Bo
“And a mixed multitude went up also with them.” (Exodus 12:38)

When you ask many Jews what the true meaning of Pesach is, you often hear:

“Pharaoh freed the Israelites after the plagues, and because they didn’t have time to let their bread rise in the desert, we eat matzah for eight days.”

It’s a correct answer, but is that all?

Passover...Read more...