blogs/rabbi-huberman

     Shabbat Sukkot

    Sukkot and the Tenements

One day in 1907, my maternal grandfather, Nissan, 19, walked off a boat in Quebec City and was thrust into the modern world. 

He was born and raised in a small Russian village—a perilous world where Jews were often targets of persecution and discrimination. But here he was in a new land,...Read more...

     Parashat: Ki Teitzei

     "The King is in the Field"

An incident that occurred about three years ago, while Patte and I were on vacation, continues to haunt me.

In ancient times, it was common for leaders to stroll, unannounced, among the people.

The Torah describes kings like Jehoshaphat and Melchizadek spontaneously...Read more...

Parashat: Re'eh

“See, this day, I set before you blessing and curse.” (Deuteronomy 11:26)

Is Life a Blessing or a Curse?

Good morning, or good afternoon, or good evening.

What kind of day are you having?

Are you tired, alert, cynical, full of joy or just “meh?”

Are you convinced the world is out to get you, or are you filled...Read more...

Parashat: Va’etchanan

Learning Judaism's 11th Commandment

According to our tradition, two Torahs were given on Mount Sinai.

On that day, Moses held up two tablets—the Ten Commandments. The first five Commandments focused on the Israelites’ relationship with God. The second five governed how people should interact with each other.

The Ten...Read more...

Parashat: Matot-Masei

The Stories of Our Lives

Growing up, it was just a walk-up apartment, just like hundreds on our street in Montreal.

We were a middle-class family, living on the edge of suburbia on a street full of second-generation Jewish families. 

The address was 3736 Mackenzie Street. Our phone number was REgent 8 -7079. It was on that street...Read more...