David Harbater, at The Blogs

Jun 4, 2026, 8:14 PM

Shelach: Caleb, Joshua, and the Courage to Defend the Truth

In Parashat Shelach, which we read this week, twelve scouts are dispatched to survey the Land of Israel and return with an honest assessment of the land, its inhabitants, and the challenges that lie ahead. Their mission was not...

May 28, 2026, 8:34 PM

Beha’alotecha: The Two Arks of Israel

In this week’s parasha we are told that the Ark of the Covenant traveled in front of the Israelite people to lead them as they traversed the wilderness (Numbers 10:33). Yet earlier we are told that the Tabernacle, which...

May 20, 2026, 6:34 PM

Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah): What Is the Torah About?

In conversations with friends or family, it is not uncommon to ask whether they have read any good books lately. And if they have, we naturally ask what the book was about. Most people can summarize its central theme...

May 14, 2026, 9:25 PM

Bamidbar: Living with Uncertainty

As the Israelites entered the wilderness, they must have been gripped by profound uncertainty and fear. Behind them lay Egypt—the only world they had ever known. It was a land of cruelty and oppression, yet it was also familiar...

May 7, 2026, 8:35 PM

How to Live in the Diaspora without Losing Sight of the Return to the Land

Parshiot Behar–Bechukotai, which we read this week, present the covenant between God and Israel in stark and dramatic terms. The Torah promises blessing, prosperity, security, and divine presence if the nation remains faithful to God’s commandments, while warning of...

Apr 29, 2026, 8:13 PM

Are American Jews Traitors?

Hagai Segal, a veteran journalist and former editor of Makor Rishon, recently ignited a firestorm with a sharply worded critique of American Jewry. In an article published in that very newspaper, he addressed them in stark terms: “Dear brothers, you...

Apr 21, 2026, 5:52 PM

A Yom HaAtzmaut Parody—and a Much-Needed Conversation

For those who have not yet seen the video by Eli Lebowicz and Dovi Neuberger parodying two conflicting views on the nature and significance of Yom HaAtzmaut (or Yoim Ha’atzamos—the “Day of the Bones”), I strongly encourage you to...

Apr 16, 2026, 9:38 PM

What Is the Connection Between Tazria–Metzora, Yom HaShoah, and Yom HaAtzmaut?

This week, as we read Parshiot Tazria–Metzora, we find ourselves situated between two of the most powerful markers of modern Jewish history: Yom HaShoah, which we have just commemorated this past week, and Yom HaAtzmaut, which we are about...

Apr 1, 2026, 2:13 PM

Is Pesach 2026 the Most Authentic?

This year, many Israelis find themselves in an unfamiliar and unsettling reality. Travel is restricted. Flights are limited or unavailable. The option of “getting away” for Pesach—so common in recent years—has suddenly disappeared. For some, this evokes disappointment, even...

Apr 1, 2026, 1:50 AM

What Is the Haggadah—and What Is Its Purpose?

JERUSALEM - APRIL 02 2007:Jewish person reads the Haggadah. The Haggadah is a Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder on Passover Jewish Holiday.

For an abridged video version of these thoughts on the Haggadah: In Judaism, we generally recognize two primary categories of sacred texts. The first is the Torah—whether in its original scroll form or in printed editions—which embodies God’s communication...

About Me

Rabbi Dr. David Harbater is a published author, Jewish educator and public speaker. His book "In the Beginnings: Discovering the Two Worldviews Hidden within Genesis 1-11" was described by the Jerusalem Post as "a work to be treasured" and by the Jewish Link as "ground-breaking, stimulating and one-of-a-kind". For more information, to sign up to his newsletter, and to invite him to speak in your community, visit his website: https://davidharbater.com/

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