blogs/rabbi-huberman

Parashat: Balak

Emails - Are They Private?

I have a question about the personal emails you write every day.

Do you regard them as confidential letters or open postcards?

It’s an ethical question that revolves around the Jewish understanding of privacy—and its genesis dates back more than 1,000 years ago to the time of the great Sage, Rabbeinu Gershom (960-1040).

Rabbeinu Gershom was once asked,...Read more...

Parashat: Korach

"Are We There Yet?"

During this holiday weekend, the American Automobile Association estimates that more than 71 million people will travel the roads of our nation.

So, how many million times do you think the following scenario will play out?

You are driving along the Long Island Expressway or Interstate 95, with hours of highway ahead of you, and one or more young voices waft forward from...Read more...

Parashat: Beha’a’lotcha

Regrets and Second Chances

It began just a few minutes after we arrived at Ben Gurion Airport. A feeling. A pain. A sense of betrayal. And a single word.

A few weeks ago, as we were leaving the Western Wall, my wife turned to me and asked: “Do you have any regrets?”

The Western Wall has that effect. Since 1969, I’ve visited Israel 18 times....Read more...

Parashat: Bechukotai

Revisiting October 7

A teaching in the Mussar tradition takes issue with the idea that Moses parted the Sea of Reeds by merely lifting his arms.   

It contends that the sea was going to part anyway, but because Moses’ inner self was in complete balance, he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The study of Mussar is complex; its founders contended that within...Read more...

Parashat: Emor

Can We Disobey the Torah?

One of my favorite Talmud stories describes a debate among our ancient Sages regarding whether a newly invented oven is permissible for public use.

Can you imagine Samsung Israel developing a new appliance that would permit someone to cook a hamburger and a cheesecake at the same time?

In a religion that demands the separation of meat, something humanity takes by...Read more...