RACHELLE MATSAS
OUR COMMUNITY LOST ONE OF OUR BELOVED RABBIS RECENTLY. RABBI MICHAEL HABER A”H WAS THE LEADER OF TIFERET SHAUL FOR MANY YEARS. HIS CONGREGANTS LOVED AND RESPECTED HIM, AND HE REACHED SEPHARDIM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THROUGH HIS MANY BOOKS. HE WORKED WITH SEPHARDIC BIKUR HOLIM AND ENHANCED THE LIVES OF ALL WHO HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF KNOWING HIM. THE FOLLOWING ARE REFLECTIONS AND TRIBUTES WRITTEN BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS IN HIS MEMORY
Rabbi Michael Haber was very influential as a contributing writer during the early days of IMAGE Magazine. His articles were very well-received and anticipated because of their unique style and his ability to get his Torah message across in a manner that readers found very relevant. He was always available to answer our questions and provide sound advice and guidance on business and personal matters.
A Hacham of the highest caliber, as the leader of Congregation Tiferet Shaul, Rabbi Haber was renowned for his ability to teach Torah and make it accessible to others. Yet the trait that truly endeared him to his congregation was his dedication. At any hour, and for any reason, he was available to lend assistance. He told his congregants not to hesitate to call, he was there 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. He was a leading rabbi of Sephardic Bikur Holim, a founder of the Harmony organization, and rabbi of the Beit Yosef Summer Congregation of Deal.
From his position at the helm of Sephardic Press, he educated thousands with the many important and inspirational books he wrote. In fact, his works are utilized by Sephardic communities around the world. Rabbi Haber, and his wife, Molly, touched countless lives. We were blessed to have him as a rabbi in our community.
THE CENTER
I had the privilege of working closely with Rabbi Haber A”H for many years as the bookkeeper of our shul. He always treated me with great respect and listened to my opinions, even though he may have disagreed with many of them. His mind was open. There were times I changed his mind on some matters, he was never the type to dictate.
I learned a great deal from him about how to deal with people. His compassion for others was unique. I saw him by accident in the hospital several months ago while I was being treated for my illness.
His reaction upon seeing me was, “I know I have to be here, but I don’t want to see you here. Why are you here?”
In spite of the misery he was going through, his thoughts were for me. He led by example, and showed the way to live a Jewish life. His trademarks were his compassion for others, his open-mindedness and the fact that he never got angry. Of course, his humility is well-known.
He didn’t seek or like attention. He was the very best rabbi and person I’ve ever met.
Saul J. Mishaan
DSN
Our DSN organization was formed in 2006 out of the legal entity called the Deal Sephardic Youth Center (DSYC), which was created in 1986. The DSYC was located in the building behind the West Deal Shul. It had a division called ‘The Big Deal,‘ whose mission was to bring the teens and singles together in a safe community environment. We had events in the building behind the West Deal Shul. This was almost 40 years ago, when the Jersey Shore had only a fraction of the year-round population it does today.
Over many years people such as Stephen Betesh, Victoria Missry, Doris Silvera, Joey Tobias and myself had the pleasure of serving the community through this entity. Guess who was our spiritual advisor and a tremendous contributor to our success at the time? Rabbi Michael Haber A”H! To know Rabbi Haber was to admire him, love him and learn from him. He was special in every meaning of the word. His speeches always had an uplifting, positive tone and a lesson to teach. I had the distinct honor to be one of his congregants at Lawrence Avenue Shul for most of my life growing up. He helped to guide us and give life lessons along with his religious instructions. He was a happy man, a brilliant man, and a kind man. I will miss him dearly. He will forever be in my heart, and in the heart of what DSN is today. May he rest in peace always.
DSN Executive Board Member Abie Ades
SAFE
We at the SAFE Foundation are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rabbi Michael Haber A”H, an extraordinary leader and beloved member of our community. His unwavering dedication and countless contributions have profoundly shaped and enriched the lives of so many.
Rabbi Haber’s commitment to fostering a sense of unity and family values will always be remembered and cherished. His wisdom and counsel, rooted in his experiences as a rabbi, businessman, and community member, were invaluable to many seeking guidance.
As we mourn his loss, we extend our deep appreciation for his instrumental work in building a more compassionate and unified community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May his memory be a blessing.
SBH
Rabbi Michael Haber A”H’s involvement in SBH dates back to when my father Joseph Beyda A”H served as president. As a board member, Rabbi Haber would attend every meeting and begin with a short but impactful dvar Torah before strongly voicing his ideas on how we could better support the community. One such example was the establishment of our SBH branch in Jersey. As a leader in Deal, Rabbi Haber saw firsthand how much our community needed the services we provided in Brooklyn. Many people would go to him for guidance on business, life, and family, so he was able to help SBH understand the broader picture of what kind of help the people needed. This led him to really advocate for what we know today as the SBH Tawil Family Jersey Branch.
Rabbi Haber was also instrumental in creating our job placement division, or what we know today as the SBH Career Services Division. He strongly supported our team to continue to focus on building this division. The ripple effect of decades of this work has positively impacted thousands of families and community members; last year alone, the division placed over 400 community members in jobs with total salaries of over $18,000,000 — all free of charge to the employer and employee.
Beyond the boardroom, Rabbi Haber had the unique ability to relate to all community members, appealing to each individual and inspiring them to volunteer. He would not only stress the effect that they could have on another, but also how much giving back would do for them. Often times, many would seek out counsel from Rabbi Haber on how to address different client cases because he would use his background as a rabbi, a businessman and a community member to truly understand what would help each individual reach their full potential.
Together with his wife Mrs. Molly Haber and their children, Rabbi Haber formed an organization called Harmony which helps couples work out their differences and has helped hundreds of marriages. It is still active today and serves as one of our strongest partners. As former SBH Executive Director Doug Balin told me, “when Rabbi and Mrs. Haber came across problems, they saw them as opportunities to be helpful.” Today we are blessed to have Mrs. Molly Haber as one of our most dedicated volunteers in the Fertility Division. Their children are following the example set by their parents and serve as community leaders. They are true exemplars of hesed, always willing to give of themselves to help SBH and our entire community.
SBH
RABBI MICHAEL HABER A”H A MAN OF ACTION
Jack Doueck
I met Rabbi Michael Haber A”H while serving on the SBH board of directors. Despite our age difference and different professional backgrounds, he always treated me as an equal, valuing my opinions and brainstorming with me as a true partner. I recall when he was a warehouse consultant, and he had an ad in a local community magazine that read: “If your warehouse is running perfectly well — don’t call us!” I asked him, “Whose warehouse runs perfectly well?” He nodded in agreement, saying, “Exactly!”
Rabbi Haber was not only my rabbi but also my close friend. We shared a special relationship, and I thank Hashem for placing him in my life. He enriched it immensely. He was a man of vision, humility, kindness, integrity, and action.
The Chesed Boomerang
In early 1994, I approached Rabbi Haber with the idea of writing a book to inspire people and volunteers to perform more acts of kindness. He not only encouraged me but also agreed to become the editor and publisher of “The Chesed Boomerang: How Acts of Kindness Enrich Our Lives,” which was published in 1997 and again in 1998. Thanks to Rabbi Haber’s guidance, the book became a success in Jewish bookstores. He meticulously edited every page, paragraph, and word. Without him, it wouldn’t have been possible, and he insisted on taking no credit at all.
For example, in the original manuscript, I quoted a Midrash explaining why G-d prevented King David from building the Bet HaMikdash. Rabbi Haber read this and crossed it out. “Rabbi,” I said, “Why did you remove the Midrash about King David in the ‘Feeding the Hungry’ chapter of the book?”
He said he didn’t think we needed it because he didn’t want anyone to be upset when they read it. Reluctantly, I followed his advice, learning that he aimed for the book’s acceptance by all Jewish communities everywhere. His long-term vision and attention to detail were unparalleled.
Another example was the cover design. Initially, it featured a young woman pretending to cross my grandmother (Mrs. Virginia Sultan) across Ocean Parkway. He liked the picture, but something about the photo bothered him. He took a marker and started scribbling on the cover. He had extended the length of the girl’s skirt so that it covered her knees, resulting in wider acceptance and distribution of the book.
The following year, Yeshivat Ateret Torah gave out “The Chesed Boomerang” to all its graduates as a graduation gift and the Chabad Rabbinical Program began requiring that all their new rabbis read the book. Naturally, I took all the credit — but he was the wind beneath my wings! It was his vision and humility that made it all possible.
Sephardic Bikur Holim and SCS
Many years before The Chesed Boomerang project, Rabbi Haber started Sephardic Career Services (SCS), a division of SBH focused on finding jobs for community members. As a board member, I gravitated to SCS and started recruiting volunteers and hiring a bigger team to grow SCS to the point where we were helping over 400 people find jobs annually. He stood in the background, encouraged, supported, and advised me — without ever taking any credit at all for anything he did. Despite my entry into his domain, he welcomed my ideas graciously, showcasing his humility and vision.
Joseph D. Beyda Tribute
When Joseph D. Beyda passed away in April 1997, I wanted to write a book about his life. Naturally, I asked Rabbi Haber if he would want to be the editor and publisher of the book. He quickly agreed. With his unwavering support, I interviewed hundreds of people and wrote “Joseph: How One Man Can Make a Difference” over the next five years. When the book came out in the summer of 2002, David Beyda hosted a special night of tribute to his dad. Rabbi Haber spoke about Joseph’s life, describing him as a man who didn’t just think about hesed but lived it. Joseph did the things that most of us only think about doing.
As I reflected on that, I realized that this also perfectly described Rabbi Michael Haber. Many people would think it would be a good idea to publish and distribute handy laminated cards with Birkat Halebanah (blessing of the moon)or Birkat Hamazon (blessing after meals) on them — Rabbi Haber actually did it!
Many people would think it would be a good idea to published and distribute books on the complex laws of mourning, or of the berachot, or kashrut, or the Jewish holidays, or a woman’s prayer book, or a transliterated Tehilim, or a special Tehilim book for various situations. Rabbi Haber spent decades writing, publishing and distributing these books — books that simplified complex laws and served crucial needs of the Jewish community. He even wrote a book about optimism and faith in Hashem entitled “Don’t Look Down,” and many others.
The Secret of His Success
Rabbi Haber’s ability to connect with all segments of the community was remarkable. His soft-spoken nature and warm smile made everyone comfortable. His appeal came from embodying two fundamental Jewish values: hesed (kindness) and emet (truth). He genuinely loved people and showed respect to every human being. When I asked him what to do on the day of my dad’s first yahrzeit, he simply advised: “Spend the day doing as many acts of kindness in his memory as you can.” This practical, life-changing guidance was something he lived himself — every single day.
Rabbi Haber’s integrity was unwavering. In all the years that I knew him, I never heard him exaggerate — even once. He ensured every story in “The Chesed Boomerang” was confirmed and properly credited. Even when a publisher charged us $500 for using a story, he insisted on paying and getting permission, reflecting his commitment to truth and integrity.
Moving to Brooklyn
In 1998, Rabbi Haber decided to move from Deal to Brooklyn. The BSZ search committee that I participated in interviewed him to be our rabbi and unanimously agreed to offer him the position. He refused. Although he would have been an instant success, in a huge shul with hundreds of congregants, he had the integrity to insist that he wanted his own shul so that he would no longer be an employee, but able to make his own decisions based on his own priorities.
He then asked me to join a subcommittee that would meet to work on establishing a new synagogue for him in Brooklyn. Before he made the move to Brooklyn there was some controversy regarding the eruv. I thought if the Rabbi held by the eruv, it would attract more congregants to his new shul, and I called him to tell him my opinion. He thought about it and decided that he would not hold by the eruv in Brooklyn. It didn’t matter how many more congregants he would attract to his new shul. He didn’t think it was permissible, so he decided against it. This decision reflected his commitment to his principles over popularity. It is another example of his integrity.
Tehilim (25:10) says: “All the ways of G-d are about kindness and truth for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.” Rabbi Haber embodied these “ways of G-d” — hesed and emet.
I thank Hashem for the great berachah of putting Rabbi Michael Haber in my life. He took a sincere interest in everything I did and treated me like a partner, an equal — yet he was a role model who guided me, encouraged me, and taught me Torah. He was a man of hesed, emet, and action — who did the things many of us only dream about doing. I’m going to miss him every day.
Tehi Nishmato Serurah B’srour Hahayim (May his soul be bound up in the bond of life).
Amen.
Jack Doueck is the author of “Six Steps to Overcoming Adversity: How to Turn Setbacks into Comebacks,” and “Joseph: How One Man Can Make a Difference,” among other books.
