Rabbi Michael Haber, ZT’L Remembered for his Love of Torah & His Dedication to Family and Community
Edited by: TJVNews.com
On Wednesday, May 8th, Jews around the world were plunged into grief and mourning upon learning of the passing of a beloved Chacham, Rabbi Michael Haber, zt’l. Thousands of members of the Sephardic community gathered in Bensonhurst to pay their last respects to this Torah giant who was so incredibly revered by all who has the distinct privilege of knowing him and imbibing his sagacious Torah wisdom. Rabbi Haber was the long time, highly esteemed leader of Congregation Tiferet Shaul in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn. His legacy was that of extraordinary dedication and boundless devotion to his family, his congregants and his community. Rabbi Haber would often exhort his congregants not to hesitate to call him, whether it be to share in their happiness in times of joy, to provide assistance and comfort in times of need, or to offer guidance at every significant juncture in life.
A leading Rabbi of Sephardic Bikur Holim, a founder of the Harmony organization, and Rabbi of the Beit Yosef summer congregation of Deal, New Jersey, Rabbi Haber’s influence was apparent in a host of community initiatives, and his impact spanned the complete spectrum of an increasingly diverse community.
Rabbi Haber was particularly renowned for his ability to teach Torah and make it accessible to others. Steadfast in his belief that one who comes to synagogue to pray should never leave without having learned something new, Rabbi Haber tirelessly provided his opportunities to study Torah. From his powerful speeches to his informative classes, from his early morning Gemorrah group to his articulate Halachic discussions, Rabbi Haber consistently exhibited an unwavering commitment to the spiritual growth of his congregation.
His proficiency in important areas of Halacha, coupled with his propensity to dispense sage advice, has made his home the natural address for so many in crucial times. In this capacity, Rabbi Haber, together with his wife, Molly, have touched countless lives throughout the community and have educated their children to do so as well.
Rabbi Haber initiated and led numerous educational programs aimed at both youth and adults. He was particularly passionate about Jewish education for children, believing that a strong foundation in Jewish identity was crucial for the continuity of Jewish traditions. Under his leadership, his congregation became a model of innovative Jewish education that combined traditional learning with modern pedagogical techniques. His life and work continue to echo through the many lives he touched, the initiatives he led, and the community-wide respect he garnered.
As a prolific and dynamic author, Rabbi Haber penned numerous books as well as halachic seforim. His books included, “ The Kosher Home Expanded Edition – A Comprehensive Manual for the Observant Jewish Home,” “The Passover Home: A Comprehensive Guide to the Laws of Pesach,”, “The Holidays,” “Don’t Look Down: Refreshing Perspectives on Everyday Life,” “A Groom’s Prayer for Sepharadim and Askenazim Jewish Men,” and “A Bride’s Prayer for Sepharadim and Askenazim Jewish Women.”
At his levaya, those who delivered passionate and heartfelt eulogies included Rabbi Diamond and his sons, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Shaul Haber, Rabbi Moshe Haber, Rabbi Yaakov Haber, and Rabbi David Haber, among others. His sons spoke of the boundless love that he has for them and their siblings and said, “It seemed like nothing else existed in this world” but also voiced their praise for their father’s boundless love for the community that he served with a palpable zeal and fervor.
In his hesped, Rabbi Diamond, lauded Rabbi Haber for raising such truly remarkable children as all of his sons became Talmidei Chochamin, Yirei Shamayaim, Baaleo Middot and vibrant Torah leaders. He also noted that all of Rabbi Haber’s sons-in-law were outstanding Torah learners.
Rabbi Haber’s wife of many years, Molly, we also praised for her extraordinary devotion to the her husband and children. When Rabbi Haber was beset with serious illness prior to this passing, his wife Molly would not leave his bedside for even a moment. As she had done her entire life, she devoted herself to him without giving a thought to her own needs.
As an exceptionally humble man, Rabbi Haber was a living and breathing paradigm of Torah values and concepts and was compared to a Sefer Torah.
His sons recalled special and indelible memories of the walks they took with their father to and from synagogue where they engaged in discussions about the welfare of the community and immersed themselves in the study of various Torah topics. They recounted the panoply of mitzvot that he personally performed with a palpable alacrity and described how the varied concerns of others took precedence in his life.
They recalled that as a profoundly humble man, those in his life were unaware of the superlative acts of chesed that he performed and the countless lives that he impacted as he never discussed it. Rabbi Joey Haber spoke of his father’s deeply ingrained humility and recalled that his father often said that if he could review his life before leaving this world, he would attempt to improve his observance of mitzvot. Rabbi Joey added that his father did not need to improve because he dedicated his life to doing the will of Hashem in the most perfect ways possible.
His sons also spoke of the fact that their father was truly “Osek B’Torah” in that he learned day in and day out and they could not recall a moment that he squandered in his majestic life of service to Hashem.
Despite the innumerable demands of his writing career, his congregation, his charitable endeavors, his sons said that their father made them feel like they were everything to him and that they were the center of his world.
After coming home from minyan on a Sunday morning with his sons in the car, Rabbi Haber would park and sit with this sons and talk about matters that were important to them or just about any topic. In so doing, they developed an unbreakable bond of love and deep concern for each other. Moreover, Rabbi Haber taught his sons to respect everyone, whether they be rich or poor, young or old.
Rabbi Michael Haber’s legacy is a tapestry of religious devotion, community service, and unwavering kindness. He passed away leaving behind a community that had been profoundly shaped by his leadership—a community more knowledgeable about their faith, more engaged in their practices, and more committed to the welfare of all its members.
Rabbi Haber is survived by his wife Molly, his sons, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Shaul Haber, Rabbi Yaakov Haber, Rabbi Moshe Haber, Rabbi David Haber, as well as his daughters, Mrs. Chani Shelby, Mrs. Simi Mizrachi, Mrs. Nechama Srour, and Mrs. Rivka Nakash. He is also survived by his brother, Rabbi Harry Haber and his sister, Mrs. Sylvia Shababo . May his memory be for a blessing and may he always be a melitz yoshor for his family and the entire Jewish nation.
