blogs/rabbi-huberman

The Charity Dilemma.
 
Years ago, about 9 pm on a particularly cold February night, we heard the doorbell ring at our home in Edmonton. I opened the door to find a middle-aged couple standing on our welcome mat with a pile of packets and brochures in their arms.
 
"We're representing the Diabetes Association," the woman said, her breath a white fog....Read more...

Recently, while attending a meeting of Jewish clergy, an Orthodox rabbi shared with me the story of his brother, who took great pride in announcing that every Saturday morning, he cooked up a big plate of bacon and feasted on it at the breakfast table.
 
"What do you think about that?" challenged the brother.
 
"Well, let me ask you," replied the rabbi. "Do...Read more...

An interesting debate came to light this past Shabbat as we completed our weekly reading of the Torah:
The discussion centered on this. "Do you believe that Jews must climb to reach the Torah, or should the Torah be permitted to come down to us?"
 
The conversation took shape last Saturday evening at a social gathering as one of our congregants shared a painful...Read more...

This has been a week to mark the passing of time.
 
As many of you are aware, this Shabbat morning, my wife and I will officially celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.
 
It's been a time for Patte and me to count our blessings, to trace the path we have travelled together, from Fort McMurray, to Edmonton, ultimately to New York.
 
Read more...

The great novelist Mark Twain was in awe of the Jewish peoples' ability to survive.
 
He asked, "What is the secret of the Jew's immortality?"
 
Twain noted that great nations such as the Greeks, the Romans, and the Persians "held their torch high for a time....and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.... All things are mortal but the Jew. All other...Read more...