Thoughts to Ponder by number

Israel Plagued, Its Destiny and the Call of Our Prophets

Throughout the centuries, historians, philosophers and anthropologists have struggled with the concept called “Israel.” While attempting to place Israel within the confines of conventional history, they experienced constant academic and philosophical frustration. Any suggested definitions eventually broke down due to serious inconsistencies. Was Israel a nation, a religion, or perhaps a mysterious entity that would […]

Megillat Esther: Attaining the Level of Non-Acquaintance

Attaining the Level of Non-Acquaintance—Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite   The most discussed topic in philosophy of the Middle Ages is, without doubt, God’s existence. Many great philosophers such as Rambam (Maimonides, 1138-1204) and the Christian thinker Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) invest a lot of time in clarifying the concepts of “omnipotence,” “divine excellence” and other such terminologies.[1] […]

Panic: The Visible and Invisible

Genuine religiosity is demanding - it requires a sensitivity to the physical human condition as well as the hidden, divine dimension. Living in a manner that combines the visible and the invisible, and more so, harmonizing the two as equal components of our lives, is a tremendous challenge. It is too easy to make a selection - as many individuals and even religions do - between the visible and invisible, preferring one over the other. However, living the one with an imbalance regarding the other is not what Judaism teaches.

God, Me and the Struggle to Teach Real Torah

Despite my many years of experience (and successes), I have felt that something crucial has been missing - which I identified recently: Am I merely conveying knowledge, or do I stand before my students as someone who is entirely imbued with the significance, import and sanctity of the words I utter? God requires of His prophets and those who speak His words to be true and just, and to live His words with every fiber of their beings!

The Art of Smiling – Fearing my Kippah (2)

A kippah - and every other aspect of dress required by the Halakhah - pose a tremendous challenge! I am constantly aware of how I am to strive to achieve and implement the values that my kippah requires of me - both when I stand before God, and also in the way I face the world. Facing my fellow, my conduct, and even the countenance I assume are spheres that my kippah relates to!

Birth and Death – The Ultimate Paradox

Giving birth to a child creates a paradox. On the one hand, it is the greatest joy we can imagine. The first commandment given to humankind is to be fruitful and multiply (Bereshit 1:28). Procreation is an expression of the highest form of creativity; just as God is the Creator of the Universe, so the […]

Chanukah: The Art of Balancing

The menorah of Chanukah, sometimes called the chanukiah, has its roots in the menorah of the Temple. While there are many halakhot (laws) regarding the appearance and structure of the biblical menorah, Rashi, the great French commentator, points to a most remarkable halachic feature. Regarding the instruction to arrange the lamps so that they will […]

It is time to stop eating “Kosher”

"Kosher" is a term that has gained rather wide prevalence, primarily in the context of "kosher food" - food that has been prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary law ("kashrut"). Are these dietary laws sufficient to deem food kosher and fit for consumption? There may be other concerns significances of what "kosher" means that will influence our thoughts and behavior. "Kosher" is, in fact, a matter of holiness - which requires us to advance, progress and improve ourselves. "Kosher" is a term that has gained fame in the context of "kosher food" prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary law. ("kashrut"). Yet "kosher" is a matter of holiness - which requires us to advance, progress and improve ourselves.

Goethe, Herman Wouk and Walter Kaufmann and the Art of Reading the Torah Correctly

As mentioned in our last essay (here) the Torah is not a text to be read as a book—rather, it is to be seen as a divine “notebook” containing succinct summaries of a greater lecture or series of lectures. Moshe first heard the lecture in its “sum total” when God delivered a series of lectures […]

An Answer to an Unasked Question is Irrelevant

The text of the Torah can be quite misleading when read in a vacuum. The casual reader may encounter what he deems to be errors, stylistic inconsistencies, grammar and linguistic anomalies, and more. However, prior knowledge - and primarily a basic understanding of what the Torah text truly is and what the goals of its divine author are - are the keys to properly understanding any and every word of the sacred text.

The Art of Making Winter into a Sukkah

Winter - bleak, dreary and cold - often has a negative effect on our moods and even outlooks. The message of Sukkot, The Festival of Tabernacles, must be continued into this period of darkness and, indeed, into our lives. The Sukkah is a structure that is quite plain and feeble by definition and requirement, and yet it interior and significance are tremendously beautiful and solid. Our lives can be greatly enriched and understood and even assigned deep purpose when we understand the Sukkah.

Sukkot, the Desert and the Eternity of the Torah

Traveling through a desert is journeying through a lonely place, completely forsaken. There is neither food nor water, nor any other form of sustaining substance. There is only the unbearable sun and its heat. There is no grass and there are no trees. The only signs of life are deadly snakes and scorpions. In a […]

Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur: A Eulogy for a Christian Who Helped my Religiosity

I was asked to eulogize an acquaintance from my childhood and youth in Holland—the mother of friends of mine. As I prepared the eulogy, I realized how much she and her family, and other devout Christians I knew, had influenced me. Despite the clear and definite differences between our religious outlooks, their sincerity and intent inspire me.

Entering Israel’s Army is like Immersing in a Mikve

Serving in the Israel Defense Forces is an act like no other. It is an act that serves the State of Israel and all its citizens, the Jewish People, and all of mankind. Moreover, the soldiers serving in Israel's army are entirely enveloped by the army - their entire bodies and beings are involved in this sacred task.

The Spiritual Uniqueness of the Israeli Army

Words on my Grandsons Enlisting in the Israeli Defense Forces - the tremendous significance of the Israel Defense Forces surpasses the mere defense of Israel's citizens. The joy and honor of joining Israel's army relate to 4,000 years of Jewish history, morals, and ethics, and the universal good.

Struggles – Illumination of My Personal Challenges

A private response to the many who asked for illumination concerning my personal religious struggles Coming from a totally secular background, like I did, has many challenges and drawbacks, and yet, also some great advantages. When I became interested in Judaism, at 14-15 years old, it was not an easy time—neither for my parents, my […]

Abraham and the US President and their Irritation with God

A God Who is good, yet the existence of evil, is an age-old dilemma. Authentic faith leads to questions and even indignation at perceived injustices. It is the true believer who reacts to realities that seem unjust and that result in suffering - remaining complacent is unacceptable! Simultaneously, one must remember the very little he can fathom about our world.

The Brilliance of Judaism When You Do Not Believe

When I met my Dutch atheistic friend, who I discussed previously (The Blessing of the Religious Atheist in Haarlem), in the city of Haarlem several times after I had met him in the synagogue, he became very outspoken. It was clear that his observations were expressed with great sincerity and with an ongoing respect for […]

The Blessing of the Religious Atheist in Haarlem

At the age of 15 when I first experienced observant Judaism, I encountered the anomaly of the observant non-believer. After approaching this person to discuss his views, his perspective enlightened me and accompanies me to this day. Non-belief does not dictate complete severance from everything that is Jewish and religious - in fact the non-believer has much to gain from Judaism, even as a non-believer!

Theism and Atheism: the Twofold of Real Faith Which is One

Approaching the question of the "existence" of God is almost impossible. Western thought and science has successfully analyzed and understood a myriad of aspects of our universe. However, applying these disciplines and proof by empirical evidence when attempting to "prove" anything about the divine proves futile. Were God to be a "thing," this would not be the case; God is not a "thing."

Shavuot: Sinai, the Mystery and Myself

Religious experiences can be few and far between. It is essential to translate religious experiences into a significant and lasting realities. All religions are born out of the intense feelings, often panic-filled astonishment, that follow such an experience. Jewish Law is a successful "recipe" for maintaining and incorporating religious experiences into our lives.

God for Atheists (2) – Belief in God and the Human Brain

Belief in the divine and religiosity most certainly have biological bases, however this does not mean that the biology of the human mind cause belief. The root of religiosity lies outside science and biology, while biology enables us to "tune in" and experience faith.

Yom HaAtzma’ut is Thousands of Years Old!

The bond, a marriage, between the People of Israel and its land stretches far back prior to the Declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. This marriage weathered wars, conquest, and exile - and now more than ever it is our duty to maintain and fortify the relationship of every Jew to the Land of Israel and the Jewish State.

Pesach: It All Started With Karpas

The seder on Pesach night opens with a mysterious practice - dipping a vegetable, "karpas," in salt water and then eating it. This is done immediately following Kiddush, and just as the recital of the Haggada begins. Why was this practice instituted and what does it teach us about the Exodus? Understanding karpas holds the key to understanding Judaism's approach to Pesach and the universal significance of the Exodus.

God for Atheists

Atheists and agnostics often feel a certain void in their lives, a certain lack of meaning or awareness of something higher, or a different dimension. This is awareness is part of the human condition and is something that offers an opening into the search for meaning. On beginning the investigation of the "God" concept, one must accept that God cannot be fully grasped: doubt is not merely a "hazard" but an integral and fundamental part of basic belief!

Purim, or How to Win a Chess Game

Purim is a festival of tremendous grandeur, splendor... and stupidity! The story of Purim as told in Megillat Esther reveals the arbitrary acts that at once were dangerous and fraught with large risk, and yet concluded as a move of courage and wisdom. Using this unusual strategy can be quite successful in chess...

The Eternity of Purim

The Purim story, as depicted in Megillat Esther, is miracle-less. Certainly as the events were unfolding the hand of God is absent, and it is only the keen reader who will identify the divine intervention as the drama that threatened the very existence of the Jewish People unraveled. God's covert involvement in the world is extremely difficult to ascertain, and yet it surrounds us every moment of every day, and like the Festival of Purim, will be celebrated for all eternity.

Adar Sheni and God Awareness

The Jewish Calendar is an intricate, complex and complicated system that requires the input of the greatest sages, astronomers and mathematicians in order to have a calendar based on the lunar year yet coincide with the solar calendar and seasons. Seemingly, it would be far simpler to follow either the lunar or solar calendar. The secret of the Jewish calendar is the creation of a constant awareness of God's presence.

Do Not Wait Until COVID-19 is Over

COVID-19 has hit all of us - the entire world - quite hard, and is a certain cause for dismay. We are all waiting for the pandemic and everything it has brought with it to end so that we can return to our routines, get on with our lives and be happy once again. However, happiness is not necessarily what or where we perceive it to be. In fact, we can already choose to be happy from today - and on every day and in every situation we find ourselves!

The Hopelessness of Judaism and its Rescue

The tension between the Law and the near hopelessness of man to live by it, to survive it and simultaneously to obey it with great fervor, is at the very core of Judaism’s complexity. The divine Word is deadly and causes paralysis. The Word, once descended to man, is unmanageable and causes havoc - it must be tamed and conditioned to allow the human to internalize it and live by it.

How to Conduct a Dialogue, Discussion or Debate

Dialogue and debate are essential parts of the sea of ideas that can enrich each and everyone of us. Unfortunately, serious debate on highly significant topics all too often moves from the topic at hand to unruly behavior (whether in an informal discussion between two parties, or in a public, formal setting). Guidelines for maintaining dignity are essential - both so that we are able to conduct the debate properly and so that we maintain our and our opponent's dignity. If we are truly dedicated to the true and free exchange of ideas, then even when we vehemently disagree with our opponent we will remain civil and learn something about his arguments and even ours.

Shemita: Do Not Become a Chimpanzee

What defines us? Is it what we do, or rather, who we are? If a human being is nothing more than the tasks he performs on a daily basis, then a mere chimpanzee can take his place and possible perform these tasks as well and even better. However, if we understand that the tasks themselves do not define us, but rather can act as a means to an end, as the means that allows us to realize our dreams, then only we can perform the tasks successfully over time. The Sabbatical year, Shemita, that we mark during the current year teaches us this important lesson; all that is left for us to do is to open ourselves to the Torah's teachings in this sphere.

The Latest Controversy Around Spinoza

Two weeks ago, a highly unfortunate incident happened at the Portuguese Spanish Synagogue in Amsterdam - based on the ban on the famous philosopher Baruch Spinoza, pronounced by the leadership of the synagogue in 1656, the synagogue’s Rabbi refused Professor Yitzchak Melamed, an Orthodox Jew, entrance to the synagogue complex, deeming Professor Melamed a “persona non grata." By public demand I am republishing the text of a lecture I delivered in Amsterdam in December 2015, a lecture wherein I called for the lifting of the ban on Spinoza.

Chanukah: To Pretend to Be Religious?

One of the great problems any religious person should struggle with is whether it is actually possible to be religious. In fact, what is the essence of genuine religiosity? The concept at the root of all religions is the awareness that it is extremely difficult to live up to the awe of the moment. The famous dispute regarding the order of lighting the Chanukah lights illuminates a practical approach to this issue.

Living Like a Jew: Playing Music and Saying “to Me”

Only something placed in relation to the sum-total of the human being bears significance - for such an act indicates complete commitment: “Till death do us part.” This may be the most crucial message for Jews today. Despite the pursuits and activities that occupy them, as long as Jews are not inspired to feel a total, personal commitment to authentic Jewishness, the right conditions for continuity and renewal will never be created.

What Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Said to the Women of the Wall

Our Torah is wide enough and deep enough to cater for everyone. The Torah can speak to each and every person; however, sometimes one aspect will speak to a specific individual while not another. In this impromptu dialogue, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach expresses a number of very significant, critical thoughts about Judaism, God, the Torah, and our own relations with our fellow.

The Wisdom of the Bus Driver: Love Your Fellow As Yourself!

Loving one's fellow as oneself is a central tenet and practical commandment of our religion. And yet, as simple as it sounds, its application is extremely difficult. Even those well-versed in the intricacies of the significance and laws governing this precept have difficulty incorporating it into their inner selves and actions. On occasion, it takes the insight and words of a bus driver to properly inculcate this love for one's fellow.

The Rabbi’s Gift and the Mashiach

When my oldest granddaughter became Bat Mitzva I wrote a book for her with advice and stories. Here is one such story.

The Mystery of the Missing Verse and the Problem of Evil

There is a pasuk (verse), missing from the Torah, a verse that is the most important of all—without which the Torah is not complete! This missing verse should have been written before the first verse in the Torah: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.” This verse should have told us why God “decided” to create heaven and earth, the millions of stars, black holes, animals, vegetation, and above all, human beings. The absence of this verse is deliberate—for there is no way to write it; it could only have been “written” in God’s personal “language” that is beyond the capability of humankind to understand. The implications of this missing verse have profound meaning for human existence.

Children’s Toys and Trivializing Torah

Human beings are uniquely blessed with the faculty of imagination, and they possess nearly unlimited potential for constructive fantasy. Imagination is essential for advancement and progress throughout the world, which is also the case for Torah study. And yet, the sophistication invested in the production of toys for our children limits their processes of pretense, and thus the possibility for innovation and new insights in Torah learning.

A Short Introduction to God

While in pantheistic and other non-monotheistic philosophies, the Divine has no moral input, nothing could be further from the Jewish concept of God. For Judaism, God is the source par excellence of all moral criteria. And yet, on occasion He Himself seems to violate these very moral criteria — such as in the case when He causes a devastating flood in the days of Noah. God is a conscious Being Who created the world with a purpose. And this world is real and by no means a mirage. The human being’s deeds are of great value, far from an illusion; they are the very goal of creation. Judaism objects to the pantheistic view of the human being since it depersonalizes him, ultimately leading to his demoralization.

Parashat Bereshit: The First Divine Commandment is to Enjoy the World

It is often thought that God’s first commandment to Adam was the prohibition regarding the Tree of Knowledge. This would mean that man’s first encounter with the will of God was a negative experience: a restriction. However, this isn't actually true: This was not the first commandment! Careful analysis of the text shows that the first commandment to Adam and Chava was to eat from all the other trees and enjoy them.

Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and the Curse of Indifference

In the last century during which our people narrowly escaped total extinction, the most remarkable thing in all of history happened. As in a dream, we, Jews, were privileged to return to our ancient homeland after nearly 2,000 years of exile. We now have our own army to defend us, and many of us live in great comfort and joy, with opportunities that we, as Jews, could never have envisioned. This is nothing less than an astounding blessing that God has granted us; an open miracle. But here too lies our greatest challenge: living under these miraculous conditions, we are in great danger of falling prey to the curse of indifference - indifference to the miserable and impossible situation of our fellow humans who are threatened by suffering and death.

Humor, Rosh HaShana, and the Impossible Shofar

It is Divine humor that tells us to live with absurdity, and supreme holy witticism that asks us to live with laughter. We are asked to enjoy the journey and realize that there is no arrival.

The Map Problem and the Fly

Some have said that only what can be proven is of value. True, if we limit ourselves to that which can be proven, we run less risk of error, and yet, by limiting ourselves so, we also run the risk of missing out on that which is most important. After all, the things that bring us the greatest meaning are those very things that cannot be proven.

Tractatus Dialogico Philosophico De Faceta – A Modern Humorous Dialogue

A humorous look at the problem of human communication. Enjoy!

Parashat Vayikra – The Challenge Of Tisha B’av And The Temple Sacrifices

Regardless of the many traditional approach to offering sacrifices in our day, there is no question that the Temple and its rituals once played an enormous role in Judaism, and that offering sacrifices was at the very center of its holy service. So, what was it that made sacrifices such an essential part of Judaism in bygone times? Was it merely primitivism? Or was it something that we are no longer connected to today and are missing out on? What holiness could there have been in the offering of sacrifices? And were we to discover this holiness, would that mean we should reintroduce the sacrificial rites in our own contemporary times?

God as an Idol: The tragedy of being religious

It’s high time that we who consider ourselves religious have an honest look in the mirror and ask ourselves what brought us to this lifestyle. Was it a genuine longing for religion and mitzvah observance, or was it an insurance policy?

The War between Israel and Hamas

When a nation looses its sense of mission it turns against those who remind them of it. All too often, it is the Jewish nation that earns their hatred with their moral demands and teachings. As a result, these countries call for the destruction of this annoying nation. Its voice, reflecting the One Above, has to be silenced so that the uncertainty of these countries’ conscience and the reality of their guilt can be obliterated.

Achieving Joy: Be a Simpleton

Joy is not a “peak experience” which climaxes and ends suddenly, but rather a plateau. It is not the ecstatic fire of the moment but the glow of growing from within.

Afterthoughts on the Pandemic: the Black Spot or the White Page?

The purpose of genuine religious life is to protest against this optical illusion and to teach us to refocus our spiritual spectacles. It is not that religion shows us something new. Rather, it shows us what we have seen all our lives but have never noticed, that there is dazzling goodness in this world. There is order instead of chaos; there is diversity, not just monotonous existence; and above all, there is the infinite grace of the human deed.

Conversion is not about Halachah but about Jewishness

Judaism and the Jewish people are intertwined and interact in ways which nobody can fully grasp. Are we a religion, or a nation? If we are a religion, how can it be that somebody who does not believe in God or refuses to observe even one commandment still remains Jewish as long as he or she is born to a Jewish mother? And if we are a nation, how does religion come in, telling us who belongs to the nation and who does not? Any attempt to find a solution to this problem will always fail. This is one of the greatest mysteries of Jewish identity.

Pesach and the Exodus from COVID-19

After a year in which we’ve personally felt a little bit of the Shi’abud Mitzraim—the bondage of Egypt—by way of the Pandemic—Pesach this year has an added meaning, bringing the Exodus a little closer to our own experience.

The Chareidi Christian Tragedy and the Idol Worship of Talmud Torah

Due to the long exile of the Jewish people, many Christian ideas have infiltrated Judaism through the back door. One such idea is the notion that saving the soul is more important than saving the body, and that the body is an obstacle to the soul. This idea is completely against the central tents of Judaism, and yet it has been adopted by certain parts of the Chareidi community.

Halachic Jews and Soul Jews

There are probably billions of people who are full-fledged “soul Jews” but don’t know it, and very likely never will. Perhaps it is these Jews whom God had in mind when He blessed Avraham and told him that he would be the father of all nations and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore.

The Challenge of Purim and the Coming of the Mashiach

Redemption does not happen overnight; it develops over a long period of intermediate hester panim, until the last stage in the drama of history is fulfilled. The story of Purim reminds us that such periods when God "hides" from us are temporary. It gives us a framework in which to understand our lives and remain optimistic, even in the midst of darkness.

The Upcoming Post Corona Crisis Part 7 – not what we want, but what we should want.

When Jews and non-Jews rediscover that to really live is an art which few people have conquered, but which is essential to our happiness, only then will the world be able to slowly heal itself.

Parashat Terumah: On the Tabernacle, Silence, and Prayer

Some of our greatest commentators have wrestled with the connection between the command to build the Mishkan (the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle) and the sin of the Golden Calf. It can be argued that the Mishkan was a concession to human weakness, and the same is true of the institution of spoken prayer!

A Plea to the Secular and Chareidi Communities

Most of the people in both the secular and the Chareidi communities are deeply committed to their fellow Jews and to the welfare of the State of Israel. And so I ask both communities, why can’t you get on with each other?

The Upcoming Post Corona Crisis – Part 6: Talmudic Rainbows

What is the Talmud all about? The first thing that must be emphasized is that the Talmud displays deliberate chaos. It roams from one topic to another without any real inner logic, other than that one word gives rise to a whole new idea without warning us that it is coming. The outsider may have trouble making heads or tails of it all. And then suddenly one gets the hang of it and realizes that all this chaos flows together into an unbelievable picture, with hundreds of colors harmoniously coming together. That moment of comprehension is a great joy for the intellect and the human soul.

The Upcoming Post Corona Crisis – Part 5

In returning the prophetic spirit to Judaism, the world of Aggadah is of crucial importance. Aggadah is the prophetic voice within Judaism, where prophecy not only speaks, but allows the reader to answer. It is the part of Judaism that deals with the sum total of human life. It prevents mechanical observance by freeing our inner spirit. Whereas Halacha is the consummation, Aggadah is its aspiration.

The Upcoming Post Corona Crisis – Part 4

The prophets had a universal message, far beyond the Jewish people. Their calls to aid the poor, widows and orphans, and the promise of the coming of the Messianic age were meant for the whole world. The State of Israel is itself the greatest proof that prophecy is slowly coming alive again. Judaism has been handed an opportunity to restore its full capacity, including its redemptive message, to heal the world and end the amputation of the best part of itself.

Parashat VaYigash – Yosef’s Remarkable Revenge

In this week's parashah, Yosef set's up the ultimate test for his brothers. Will they let their little brother down and not sell him to the enemy or will they fight for him? The answer will show whether they have truly repented of their betrayal of him.

The Upcoming Post Corona Crisis – Part 3

Halacha was meant to rely heavily rely on the prophetic voice to give it its spirit and motivation. Because of the absence of prophecy, this spiritual component is missing or overlooked in our day-to-day experience. It is the absence of this prophetic dimension that underlies the spiritual malaise in which we currently find ourselves.

Chanukah: History is written by Choice, not by Truth

Judaism suggests that at certain times God sends emanations to this world in order to awaken human beings to act. We see this in the story of Chanukah. God created a notion of revolt within the minds of the Maccabees, whose greatness was manifest in their correct reaction to this heavenly directive.

The Unforgettable “Sinterklaas”: A tongue-in-cheek look at a remarkable tradition

This week, the festival of Sinterklaas will take place in my birthplace of Holland. This festival made an indelible impression on my childhood, and there is much we can learn from the dilemmas it raised (and still raise) for Jewish educators.

The Absurdity of Yom Kippur – The Confrontation with Our Undeserved Lives

Yom Kippur leads us to realize life itself is a gift and that gifts confer obligations. The more we receive, the more we become obligated to respond adequately.

Rosh Hashana: Daring to Blow New Life into Judaism

The blowing of the shofar proves that we can surpass ourselves. On our own, using only our vocal cords, we are unable to produce this sound—a terrifying, awesome, penetrating resonance. This is a sound that can cause us to break down, pick ourselves up again, and transform ourselves into new individuals.

Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven: How to be a Genuine Halachic Expert

To be an arbiter of Jewish law is to be the conductor of an orchestra. It is not coercion but persuasion that makes it possible for the other to hear the beauty of the music and to accept a halachic decision, just as one would willingly listen to the interpretation of a conductor—because one is deeply inspired.

Who can be Mashiach? He who knows how to sing!

Music raises the spoken word to a level that touches on prophecy. It gives it a taste of that which is beyond, and transforms it into something untouchable. Just as there is no way to demonstrate the beauty of music to a person who is completely deaf, so is there no way to explain the difference between a spoken word and one which is sung, unless one sings. It lifts a person out of the mundane and gives him a feeling of the imponderable, which is the entrance to joy. It sets the soul in operation and brings us near to the Infinite.

Some Bold Ideas How to Observe Shabbat, take the Tram and go to a Restaurant!

It is clear a greater number of secular Israelis would like to become more observant. However, for various practical reasons, or due to social pressures, they are unable to make this switch. One of the great challenges, if not the greatest, is Shabbat, the only official day of rest in Israeli society, when people enjoy visiting people, or meeting friends at a restaurant. But none of this is possible without the use of cars or taxis and with no open restaurants. Here are some suggestions to overcome these obstacles

Torah: The Confrontation with Ourselves

The people of Israel, according to Jewish tradition, are not the authors of the Torah. Rather, the Torah is the author of the people. As a covenant between God and humankind, the Torah is what brought the people into being. Moreover, despite the fact that the people have often violated the commanding voice of this text, it created the specific and unique identity of the Jewish nation.

Yom Yerushalayim: The City and People of Eternity

A poem for Yom Yerushalayim.

Pesach and the Coronavirus: Where is God

The Coronavirus has once more confronted us with the absence of God in modern times. This absence is often seen as the cause for much secularism. No longer, it is argued, are there enough indications for God’s interference in the national and private affairs of mankind. Is there another way to look at this seeming absence? Might we find God in silence?

The Message of The Corona Virus

The new reality in the age of COVID-19 forces us to break with the monotony that most of us are used to. Almost all of us jump into routine every morning – whether it’s a job, or the need to sleep, eat, or entertain ourselves. And now, the corona virus suddenly forces us to rethink everything, making us wonder what this life of ours is really all about.

The Perfect Torah Versus the evolving Torah

Announcing a new initiative by the Cardozo Academy Think Tank: a series of guest essays by Yehudah DovBer Zirkind, based on Rabbi Cardozo's discussion of the Mei Hashiloah, Torah and Halacha.

Fundamentalism, Education and The Wisdom of the Gentile

By designating Yitro to be the father-in-law of the most holy Jew of all times, God made it clear that He would not tolerate racism and that a righteous gentile could climb up to the highest ranks of saintliness.

Praying, Soulmates, Army Service and the Halachic Chess Game

Podcasts on Prayer, finding One’s Soulmate, and Army service of the Ultra Orthodox, plus a previously published essay on the similarity between Halacha and a chess game.

Parashat Bo: Knowing How to Lose

The secret to Moshe Rabenu's greatness is that he knew that his failures were in fact the building blocks for his future successes. While he may never have known what his accomplishments were, he continued to fight and ultimately prevailed.

75 Years After the Holocaust: Rembrandt and the Quest for Integrity

Rembrandt reminds us that if we want to really live we must show flawless integrity and demonstrate great authenticity. It is all about making a genuine contribution to the world, with no regard for gain, and even being prepared to pay the price of one’s rank and position in the conventional community. A person must make sure that he can look himself in the mirror at the end of his life and say, I lived my life; it did not just pass me by.

Conversion, the Most Difficult Mitzva, and the Need for Heresy

Judaism was born out of opposition, rebellion and protest. It overthrew and outlived mighty empires and gave the world a radically new understanding of itself. Judaism has nothing to fear. It has prevailed over all those who criticized it but has also learned much about itself by listening to opposing voices. Through these voices, it has been able to sharpen its own claims and if necessary change its mind when the inadequacy of these claims has become clear. Only in this way will it continue to play a central role in the future of mankind.

The Talmudic Olympic Games

Last week, something remarkable happened. Thousands of Jews from all over the world came together to study the last page of an old book with the ineffable anticipation of starting to study it all over again from page one and not to lose a minute.

Bilaam, Pontius Pilatus, Jesus and the Jewish Tradition

It is extremely difficult to know whether the stories and observations about Jesus in the Talmud actually refer to the Jesus of the New Testament. Scholars have made the important observation that there is also a very great discrepancy between the picture which emerges from the actual text of the New Testament and the one developed by the church.

The Tragedy of Jesus and a Hand Wave

We should be careful in the way how we deal with people who are contemplating the possibility of leaving the fold. Much could be prevented, and too much is at stake.

God’s False Accusations and the Mystery of this World

God who is beyond time and space, is the source of all what happens and so uses false accusations, pretexts, and insidiousness against  human beings while teaching them   simultaneously that they are free to act and that they carry full responsibility for their deeds.

Two New Podcasts: On the Jewish Mission and the Most Difficult Mitzva

Dear Friends, Shalom u-vracha. Although we have received several new gifts, for which we are most thankful, our financial situation has still not been resolved. The unfortunate “witch hunt” against some of my ideas seems to continue and has created much financial damage to our programs, projects and writings. As I have stated before, I […]

The Religious Value of Doubt

Faith means striving for faith. It is never an arrival. It can only burst forth at singular moments. It does not arise out of logical deduction, but out of uncertainty, which is its natural breeding ground. To have faith is to live with unresolved doubts, prepared to rise above ourselves and our wisdom. Looking into the Jewish tradition with its many debates, one clearly understands that those who deny themselves the comfort of certainty are much more authentic than those who are sure.

Avraham and Individuality: Old Age and Facelifts

For the authentically religious personality, religion can be experienced and lived only in a state of originality. Any imitation of fellow worshipers is serving oneself and not God. In essence, religion is an attempt to search for God, the ultimate Original.

Chaye Sarah: Leader or Captain

Avraham was an unparalleled leader and walked in front of everybody else. But he was also a captain who cared for the underdog and who pleaded with God not to leave the wicked people of Sedom and Amora behind.

The Religious Challenge of Akedat Yitzchak

Avraham learns that to be religious is to live with a God Who carries contradictions and incongruities. Consistent gods are idols because they don't teach man how to live in a world that is full of dichotomies and inconsistencies. To be religious means to know how to navigate unresolvable conflicts, to be bold enough to negotiate, and to stand upright even when failing.

The Curse of Fluency

Praying to God can be risky! All of us frequently succumb to the danger of prayer by rote, which can easily lead to other serious problems. The worshipers may be so arrogantly satisfied with themselves that they completely forget before Whom they stand while praying.

Praying – Suffering – Noach and Spinoza

Noah does not represent genuine religiosity. Yes, many religious Jews believe that it is only in obedience that one must live one’s religious life. But that is not what the first Jew and authentic Judaism are all about. Judaism is a covenant between man and God, in which man is co-creator. God orders him to take action beyond His commandments. He is asked to build the world with the ingredients that God supplied at the time of creation. And when God destroys the world, it is man’s task to restore it.

News from the Cardozo Academy plus Two New Podcasts

Many friends have asked me to explain a little more why the David Cardozo Academy no longer has the finances to send new weekly Thoughts To Ponder, authored by myself as I have done for many years.

The Dangerous “Day After” Yom Kippur

The day after Yom Kippur, the synagogue service really should be a completely different experience from what people are used to. Yom Kippur should still be in the bones of all synagogue participants. Its spirit should still be felt with every prayer. It should be completely impossible for synagogue services to return to their old ways, in which prayers are  said as if “nothing happened.”

Yom Kippur, Family, and Time-Traveling

Two new podcasts, plus an essay for Yom Kippur.

Music, Children and Israeli Politics

A parable for Rosh Hashana, plus, two new podcasts: On music as religious experience, and on the importance of bringing children into the world.

The Future of Thoughts to Ponder

To my great regret, due to a severe lack of funds, the David Cardozo Academy has been forced to leave its offices, hence, I will not be able, at least for the meantime, to write and send out my weekly Thoughts to Ponder.

Is Torah from Heaven

Why do we believe that revelation may be possible? If revaluation is by definition not amenable to scientific investigation, what other faculty is available to us to contemplate the prospect of revelation? Believe it or not, this depends on our openness and capacity to wonder, to be perplexed and stand in amazement, which happens when we have no other way of dealing with something extraordinary.

Why the Shofar? An Introduction to Rosh Hashana

The blowing of the shofar proves that we can surpass ourselves. On our own, using our vocal cords, we are unable to produce this sound – a terrifying penetrating resonance. Alone, we cannot produce a sound that comes close to the piercing and penetrating heavenly voice of the shofar, which can cause human beings to break down, pick themselves up again, and transform into new individuals.

Parashat Re’eh: The Purpose of Judaism is to Disturb

Religion is a protest against taking life for granted. There are no insignificant phenomena or deeds in this world, and it is through Judaism’s demands and far-reaching interference in our daily life that we are made aware of God as our steadfast Companion.

When Times Change, Jewish Education Changes

Jewish education has only one goal, and that is to inspire students to reach for Heaven (Yirat Shamayim)—to transform them into outstanding human beings, who demonstrate concern for their fellowmen and dedication towards the Jewish people and the notion to serve mankind as its ultimate mission, according to the commandments of the Torah.

Parashat Va’etchanan: Sweetening the Divine Word

There is little meaning in living by Halacha if one does not hear its grace. It is not a life of Halachic observance that we need, but a life of experiencing Halacha as a daily living music recital. Observance alone does not propel man to a level of existence where he realizes that there is more to life than the mind can grasp.

Rabbinic Despair and Simple Courage

In the wake of the destruction of Jerusalem the leaders of the Jewish people despaired. But the ordinary Jews did not. Despite the total collapse of Jewish life, they opted for the impossible. They not to listen to their leaders, but continued building the nation of Israel, as they had previously been taught by the very sages who now despaired. Sometimes, the simple man has more faith in the Jewish future than the greatest Talmudic scholar.

A Command to Cancel the Commandments

Judaism’s recognition of God is not the triumphant outcome of philosophical deduction. It results from the performance of mitzvoth. Through the observance of the commandments we perceive the Commander.

Shabbat: To Postpone is to Profane

To set one’s schedule around fixed times—for prayers, for meals, for learning, etc.—does not only inject order into one’s life, but also meaning; and as such one gains an opportunity to sanctify those moments. The chaos of a week without order, of days without set times, is yet another manifestation of the secularization of society and the profanation of the sacred.

Life: The Courage to Say “Li”

Just as there is a need to continuously grow in a marriage, so it is with Judaism. One needs to work on one’s commitment. Both the spouse and Judaism need to become the ultimate priority in our lives.

The Divine Insanity of Halachic Chess

Halacha is the greatest chess game on earth. It is the Jewish game par excellence. For people who want to live a life of great meaning and depth, nothing is more demanding and torturous while simultaneously uplifting and mind-broadening. They love the rules because they are the way to freedom. Certainly chess is just a game, while Halacha, if properly understood and lived, deals with real life, deep religiosity, moral dilemmas, emotions, and intuitions far more significant in a person’s life than a chess game.

“Limmud” – An Open Letter to the Chief Rabbi of South Africa

I love to go to Limmud, to listen and to teach. Limmud is a place where I am challenged; where I hear new things (including some utter nonsense); where I can fall in love with my fellow Jews, laugh and cry with them, and share my commitment to and struggles with Judaism.

On Being Called a Rabbi & Third-Epoch Halacha – Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz

In the next 50 years, we will see radical changes in the condition and nature of the Jewish people, as well as in Orthodox Judaism and Halacha. While during the last 2,000 years Halacha was “exile-orientated” and “defensive,” we are slowly growing out of this. The sources that until now were the basis for Halacha will have to be replaced by new Orthodox / Israeli “prophetic” Halacha. The first signs of this are already taking place.

My Struggle with Persuasion and the Truth Concerning other Religions – Question 10 (part 1)

It is because of my awareness that any religious belief can be justified that I have become so critical of mainstream Orthodox Judaism and skeptical about the way I promulgate my own Judaism, in the way I see it. Do I believe in it only because it’s something I have grown into and feel at home and comfortable with, or is there something more that makes my Judaism’s claim to truth stand out from all the others?

Is the Torah Divine? Thoughts for Shavuot on Combustibility

A flame grows or diminishes depending on the combustibility of the material it comes in contact with. So it is with human openness to the divine. Their receptivity to the divinity of Torah is proportionate to the condition of their soul.

A Vote of Confidence

While most people today believe that one should not burden children with obligations, but rather allow them to make their own choices, Judaism teaches us that giving a child the feeling that he has a moral task to fulfill is giving him the option to experience immense joy.

To Madonna

Shabbat is the day on which we are asked to put aside all the profanity of clattering commerce and the fury of greed; of trying to convince ourselves that we are the absolute owners of this world. It is a day of protest against all the external pomp, glitter, and power. Its purpose is to turn the world into an island of tranquility in the stormy sea of worldliness, for one day each week.

On Music Baths And Art As Protest

Natural beauty, art, and music exist to disturb our complacency. Their purpose is to awaken in us a sense of wonder. And while beauty, art, and music facilitate that wonder, the role of religion is to provide us with the means to respond to it.

Yom Ha’atzmaut – The Eternal Marriage

Yom Ha’atzmaut commemorates the anniversary of a marriage that has lasted more than 3,500 years. This may sound like a paradox, but it is the inescapable truth about the Land of Israel and the Jews. No marriage has lasted so long, been so deep in its commitment and so overwhelming in its love as the one between the Jews and their homeland.

My Chareidi and Modern Orthodox Struggles (Part 2)

I believe the world is constantly changing because this is the will of God. God doesn’t want a static world. From the very beginning, we see an evolving world that is constantly on the move and trying to improve itself (with ups and downs). New conditions express God’s will, and it follows that God wants Halacha to “change” accordingly.  

Bread is an Arrogant Matza

On Pesach, which symbolizes the beginning of the Jewish people, Jews are once more reminded that their mission to become a light unto the nations can only start in the spirit of humility. Arrogance can never be the foundation of spirituality and moral integrity. It cannot inspire others, nor will it have a lasting effect.

My Chareidi and Modern Orthodox Struggles

It’s important to realize that nobody can inherit religion, not even from oneself. It has to be an ongoing discovery. I converted when I was 16, but over the years I’ve come to realize that to convert only once is almost meaningless.

Radical Otherness and the Israeli Elections

Israel’s very existence is the manifestation of divine intervention in history to which it must attest. In Israel, history and revelation are one. Only in Israel do they coincide. While other nations exist as nations, the people of Israel exist as a reminder of God’s involvement in world history. Only through Israel is humanity directly touched by the divine.

Book Review: The Passover Haggadah of Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkovits

It is a great joy to study Faith and Freedom: Passover Haggadah, With Commentary from the Writings of Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits. In this Haggadah, not only do we find very interesting insights by Rabbi Berkovits on themes that relate to Pesach, but we also get somewhat of an introduction to his philosophy and unique halachic approach in general.

Purim – Serious Reflections on the Proper Use of Alcohol

Some appropriately irreverent thoughts to...well, no, not to ponder on the occasion of Purim.

The Hardship and Privilege of Honest Teaching: The Baal Teshuva Movement Impasse

I strongly believe that new ideas, ideologies and movements are God-given and have great religious meaning. This means that we are religiously obligated to incorporate them into Judaism—sometimes by just accepting them and other times by reworking them.

Critics, Laughter and Writing Serious Stuff: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo – Question 7 (Part 2)

It is important to remember that great controversies are also great emancipators. They give us new and fresh insights. We are in dire need of them. We should not only allow them but encourage our students to advance them!

My Controversy with the Mainstream Orthodox Community – Part 1

I am often attacked for my views, and I understand that. To question our views, with the implication that we may need to change our ways, is not always pleasant. But if we want to make sure that Judaism has a future, we have no option but to take that road.

My Fascination with the Chaotic World of the Talmud: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo

The Talmud is the ongoing discussion of what God wants from us while, for the most part, not giving us a final answer and leaving us in limbo. Why is this? Because it is only through discussion and disagreement that a tradition can stay alive and be relevant. Once it is finalized, it will die. This is the reason that I object so strongly to the codification of Jewish law.

The Sanctity of Shabbat: Yes to the Ayalon Bridge, No to the Eurovision Song Contest

However much money Israel may make from hosting Eurovision, it is absolutely wrong and shameful that Israel’s leadership will allow violation of Shabbat on this occasion. It is self-evident that this has nothing to do with pikuach nefesh. Israel should cancel the Eurovision Song Contest if its organizers are not prepared to find a solution so that Israel can keep its head high and show the world what it means to stand for one’s principles.

My Search for, and Momentary Loss of, God: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz

What is holiness? It has something to do with the constant awareness that God is to be discovered in all that one does, speaks, thinks, and feels. But that’s nearly unattainable. How does one live up to this?

Why I Ask and Doubt but Have Strong Faith: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz

Faith is like music. It is true because of its beauty, not because of its intellectual certainty. It stems from impossible paradoxes, as well as a great deal of imagination that surpasses rationality and scientific or historical facts.

Why I (Refuse to) Pray: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz

For me, praying is the admission that we need His help and that we are not God! I have to make myself aware that I need to praise Him because I am not His equal; not because He needs me for anything. But sometimes, as after a tragedy, I want to turn my prayer into a protest against God.

The Great Paradox: The Non-Existent God and the Need to Serve Him

Is God really perfect as we always maintain? God Himself tells Moshe Eheyeh asher eheyeh—I will be what I will be. Not “I am what I am” as the Septuagint mistranslates. But how can that be? It means that He is not yet what He should be and that He never will be. Apparently He is incomplete, because He seems capable of changing and moving toward perfection, but He will never be able to actually reach perfection. God is trapped in a contradiction. So, is God a verb? Always “godding”? Always imprisoned in a becoming mode? What then is God? An unending trial to be God?

Why I am Controversial: Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo – Question 1

I was recently asked by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz of the Society of Independent Spirituality: Can you say a little about the educational and spiritual goals of your weekly articles? What do you want your readers to experience when they read these articles? How do you yourself experience these goals and articles? Here is my response.

Torah Beyond Halakhah – An Interview with Rabbi Cardozo

The Beauty of the Jewish tradition is that it is not always precise and consistent, because ife is not clear-cut or coherent. We need flexibility to work out the different opinions so that Jewish Law and beliefs stay fresh and thriving. The moment we codify or dogmatize it all, we destroy it.

Judaism: Thinking Big

We are in desperate need of bold ideas that will place the Torah in the center of our lives and make us receptive to God’s presence through a daring new encounter with Him. Let it be heroic. Not staid and comfortable, but painful and hard-won; a deep breath in the midst of the ongoing conflict ever-present in the heart of humankind.

Parashat Miketz – The Pain of Being a Tzaddik

To be righteous, with the full awareness that nobody will ever know the real story, and to have one’s deeds condemned, is one of the most painful human experiences and is a great tragedy. Only the knowledge that the One Above knows the real story, and the conviction that it is more important that others benefit from one’s deeds than to be assured of the recognition of one’s real intentions, gives the ultimate feeling of spiritual satisfaction for which the tzaddik strives.

Parashat Vayeshev: Divine Emanations, Chanuka and the Future of the State of Israel

Judaism suggests that at certain times God sends emanations to this world so as to awaken human beings to act, just as Pharaoh received his dreams in order that Joseph’s imprisonment would come to an end.

Parashat Vayishlach: Amalek, Jewish Injustice, Converts, and a Warning to the Chief Rabbinate

The Torah teaches us to erase Amalek’s memory by doing everything in our power not to give cause to hostile feelings within ourselves toward other nations.

Parashat Vayetze: Be Fearful of Religion

We are not asked to dream the inconceivable. We are asked to dream what is actually achievable. It is the Halacha that rescues us from unrealistic dreams, substituting them with those that are viable. Mount Sinai and the giving of the law replaced impossible dreams with those that are within our grasp.

Parashat Toldot: Admitting A Mistake: Even God Does

When even God can' make a "mistake", and admit it, we can rest assured that it is nothing less than honorable to act similarly.

Faith, Death and Frontal Encounter

If one invests in one’s faith by singing God’s praises during times of prosperity and good health, then, in the loneliness of difficult and sorrowful times, one may be able to continue believing in God’s faithfulness even when there is little evidence of such Divine allegiance.

The Curse of Religious Boredom

Young people are developing a fresh approach to what Judaism is really all about—open to new adventures. They are keenly aware that one cannot inherit Judaism but only discover it on one’s own through an often difficult spiritual struggle, and even warfare.

God and Natural Disasters: God is not a “What,” or a “When,” and not even a “Who”

Moshe asks God to reveal His name to him before he conveys the message to the Jews that He will redeem them from Egyptian bondage. God refuses to do so, and His answer is astonishing: “I will be Whoever I will be.” I am not a “what,” or a “when.” I am not even a “who.” There is no term you can use to describe Me. Any attempt to give Me an image is a serious violation of My very being. Any conclusive explanation of My deeds is idol worship. I permit you to describe Me in human terms only as long as you know that any such description will ultimately break down. No word can ever contain Me.

Parashat Noah – Natural Disasters: Are We To Be Blamed?

Must we believe that the whole universe was created only to test man’s moral and religious conduct? Is it not be more logical to conclude that God’s reasons for creating the universe are much greater and more significant than the problem of human behavior?

Introduction to Torah – The Unavoidable and Disturbing Text

Learning Torah requires human authenticity; it means standing in front of a mirror and asking yourself the daunting question of who you really are, without masks and artificialities.

Simchat Torah: The Unapproachable Text

On Simchat Torah we begin reading the Torah all over again. Even the greatest Torah scholars once again come to the conclusion that they need to reread it, since they failed bitterly the previous year. After all, we only start reading the first words and already we get stuck, unable to understand the actual meaning; and we can never really get beyond that place. While in the non-Jewish world the whole point is to finish a book, in Judaism we are all just perpetual beginners.

Simchat Torah – Technology and the Outdated Torah Scroll

Running our world by remote control has not been good for our souls; and walking on the moon has not helped us to know our next-door neighbor any better. On the contrary, technological progress has robbed us of our own humanness. It is therefore most meaningful that one item has maintained its constancy. It carries a text that has had greater influence in the world than any other we know of. It has changed the universe as nothing else has; it encourages people to move, to discover, and to develop. But it is written on parchment, by the hand of a person, holding a quill, as if to say: Be yourself. Don’t get run over by the need for progress. 

Yom Kippur: Do We Deserve Life? The Art of Spiritual Administration

The call of the hour on Yom Kippur is this: a full day is given to us to realize that our lives are undeserved. Life is only great when it is earned through a dignified response.

Rosh HaShanah: What Really Counts

Every ordinary act should be turned into a kind of  mitzvah, a spiritual challenge, making it a dignified encounter with God. On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur we are reminded that our deeds must redeem God’s presence and rescue Him from oblivion. In doing the finite we must be able to perceive the infinite. 

The Joy of Saying “I am Sorry” – The Portuguese Spanish Selichot

To be given the opportunity to do teshuvah is an enormous privilege. It is a joy to be able to say I am sorry. This is the ultimate expression of religious optimism. Judaism teaches man that there is no karma that traps him, and no original sin that stands in his way. Man is free to re-engage with God and his fellow man. Whatever obstacles there may be, all that is required is the will to change his ways and the effort to work hard at it.

Parashat Shoftim: Surround Yourself with Cleanliness

Jewish law contains a far-reaching codex for personal and environmental cleanliness that would seem novel and forward-thinking to many twenty-first century environmentalists. Unfortunately, these laws do not seem to be of great concern within many orthodox communities today. By implementing the Torah’s laws in this realm, orthodox communities will make a tremendous kiddush Hashem, which is in fact the purpose of being a Jew.

Achieving Unity While Remaining Divided

Paradoxically, the only way to create unity among different denominations is for all to recognize that they are fundamentally divided. We need to stop asking for compromise on the very beliefs that are matters of personal conscience and therefore categorical.

The Jerusalem Parade: Homosexuality

All discussions of why certain marriages or sexual relationships are forbidden are doomed to fail! No human reasoning is able to explain them in any consistent way. It is for this reason that religious thinkers should distance themselves from giving primary reasons for these prohibitions.

Parashat VaEtchanan: The Revelation is Taking Place Today!

When a person learns Torah as a religious experience and hears its revelation, the gap of several thousand years—from the Revelation until now—no longer exists. Accordingly, Torah is given today

Tisha b’Av – Who needs the Temple?

The Temple whose destruction we mourn on the 9th of Av has no inherent value. It is only a means to something that no physical object can contain. On Tish’a B’Av, we do not mourn the loss of the Temple but rather the loss of its message, which we no longer seem to grasp.

The Controversy Surrounding My Louis Jacobs Memorial Lecture

Louis Jacobs is not at all as radical as some would like to believe. In fact, some ultra-Orthodox thinkers were even more radical than Rabbi Jacobs but remained completely committed to Orthodox Halacha and the belief in Torah from Heaven.

The Search for God: The Struggle to Achieve the Greatness of Halachic Living

We must teach Halacha as a musical symphony, in which all students see opportunities to discover their inner selves. Teachers must stand in front of their classes as a conductor stands before his orchestra and draws it out of its confinement, moving it beyond itself. They must show their students how to pull the ineffable out of the dry halacha and turn it into an encounter with God.

Scandalous Halachic Decisions: Ethiopians and Wine

The ruling by the Eida HaHareidit that Ethiopian Jews are not fully Jewish is scandalous and deeply embarrassing. It disgraces Judaism and is as anti-Jewish as can be. This and many other rabbinical decisions are not part of the Judaism I converted to. I abhor them and want no part of them.

Parashat Chukat – The Curse of Religious Coercion

For the sake of later generations—who would need to know that the ways of the Torah are ways of pleasantness, of the gentle word and not the hard strike—God denied Moshe the merit of living in the land. He made it clear to all that leaders who seek to turn Israel into a holy nation by way of threat or by force may very well bring disaster to themselves and their people.

Parashat Korach: The Curse of Camouflaged Jealousy and the Blessing of Enjoying the Achievements of Others

Among world leaders, governments, the academic world, and even the Jewish world, we see symptoms of Korach's conduct. And while it also happens among the average population, it is with the “mighty ones” that the consequences are much more serious."

Conversion: An Open Letter to Israel’s Chief Rabbis

The first convert and Jew, Avraham, was only asked to observe a few of the commandments, such as circumcision. An incubation period was required to allow for Judaism to develop slowly and be solidified at Sinai with the giving of the Torah. In this time frame, the great moral-religious foundations of Judaism and the conditions for creating the Jewish nation were shaped. We should allow potential converts this option to slowly work their way up to Sinai.

Parashat Behaalotecha Theocracy, Democracy, and Halacha

Halacha seeks to create a certain duality within the Jewish polity and allows space for a democratic model in which human beings decide the law, not only God. This is with the full permission, nay, on the initiative of God Himself as reflected in the Torah. In other words, the Torah itself gives its imprimatur to state law: “Appoint yourselves shoftim [judges sitting in the Sanhedrin] and shotrim [magistrates who judge according to ‘the law of the king,’ civil law].

Why a Second Day of Yom Tov? The Incomparable Greatness of the Land of Israel

Since the days of Hillel HaNasi, an official and fixed Jewish calendar (independent of eye witnesses) is in operation and, consequently, there is no longer any doubt about which day is the correct day of Yom Tov. Why then, did the Sages did not annul the second day Yom Tov?

Atheism Belief in the Unbelievable

I am jealous of atheists because they are able to believe the unbelievable. And I, in my simplicity, cannot reach that state of belief.

Parshat Bechukotai – To Have or to Be, That Is the Question

To be satisfied is one of the greatest blessings that can ever be bestowed upon human beings. The Torah teaches us that when the People of Israel live in accordance with the requirements of the Torah, what will matter is not what a person “has” but what a person “is.”

Sefirat HaOmer: The Secret to Human and Rabbinical Autonomy

The real struggle for moral liberty started the day after the exodus from Egypt. The first day was a given; it was the day of God, not of the people. It was the day of passivity and complete surrender. Only the next day did the spiritual labor of the human being begin, and that is therefore the first day of our spiritual elevation.

The Tragedy and the Challenge: A Forgotten Mission

We Jews are messengers, but we have forgotten the message. It is our obligation to rediscover it and advance it into eternity. Our task is to be more than human, more than good, and more than pious, to surpass all these and once again become God’s stake in the future.

Yom HaShoah – Jewish Life or Merely Israeli Life?

Rabbi Yochanan taught us that Jews can survive without Israel, as long as there is Torah, the portable homeland of the Jewish people. But Jews will not survive solely because of the existence of Israel—however powerful it may be—if Israel does not incorporate a large percentage of Jewish traditional resources.

Pesach: The Mystery of Karpas

Why do we use karpas—a green vegetable—dipped in salt water at the beginning of the Seder? Could it have something to do with the other meaning of karpas—fine woolen cloth? There is a lesson here, hidden in plain sight, about causality and Divine Providence.

Plato’s Haggada in the “Dialogues”

When we read the text on the Seder night, we should be aware that it only provides the opening words. The real Haggada has no text. It is not to be read, but is rather to be heard. And, just as with the Torah, we have not even begun to understand its full meaning. We are simply perpetual beginners.

An Open Letter to Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and the Charedi Leadership

Radical change has taken place in the Jewish world after the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel. We have been shown that it is impossible for all of us to stay outside of history. The Holocaust has taught us that we cannot survive without entering history. To argue that our yeshiva students are the ones who really defend us against our enemies, and that we do not need soldiers, is an escape from reality.

Wonder and the Question of Revelation

Judaism is about an upheaval in the soul and the need to break with all sorts of idols. It is about living with spiritual trepidation in which man realizes that he was created from dust but has the ability to reach Heaven. Whether or not man succeeds will depend on his willingness to stand in awe.

Megillat Esther and the Nervous-Syndrome Chess Game

Purim Torah: How acting crazy helps your chess game!

Amalek: A warning to the Chief Rabbinate

The Torah demands of the Jews: “You shall erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget.” This commandment seems to be a paradox: How can we erase the memory of Amalek if we are not allowed to forget what he did?However, it is very possible that the Torah hints here not only to the monstrous deeds of Amalek, but also to the injustices that were done by our forefathers to the ancestors of Amalek.

Finding One’s Neshomeh

To attend synagogue is an art. People must come with a sincere urge to discover their Jewishness, to reconnect with their inner being and with the Jewish people. To enter the synagogue is to hope for a metamorphosis in one’s soul and a transformation of one’s personality.

The Enduring Preciousness of the Secular Jew

There is little doubt that secular Jews, consciously or unconsciously, keep a large number of commandments. Many of them may not be in the form of rituals, but there is massive evidence pointing to secular Jews’ commitment to keeping interpersonal mitzvot. Beneath the divisiveness of traditional commitment lie underpinnings of religion such as compassion, humility, awe, and even faith.

The Challenge of Yitro – Would you convert?

Yitro confronts us for the first time with a new phenomenon: to be a Jew by choice. By doing so, he presents all Jews with a major challenge: how to become a Jew by choice even when one has been born into the fold; how to feel the fire needed to live the life of an authentic Jew, as Yitro did. Such an undertaking is possible only if one is able to re-enact and experience Yitro’s journey to Judaism.

Parashat BeShalach – Jewish Self-Delusion

How can we understand the self-delusion of the Jews who complained against Moshe for taking them out of Egypt? Obviously, the Israelites were well aware that their life in Egypt was not one of tranquility while sitting by pots of meat! I would suggest that they did not intend to deny the past, but that they wanted to deny the future. Not that it did not happen, but that it would not happen again!

A Call to all Jews – Circumcision: Why Risk Your Child’s Well-Being?

When we object to circumcision on the basis of its denying the child’s right to autonomy over his body, it could seem that we are making a valid claim. Indeed, by what right are we, as parents, allowed to make the decision to bring a child into the Covenant? But shouldn’t we also ask ourselves honestly whether we have the right to bring a child into this world at all? Is that not a much greater injustice than circumcision?

Moses: The Successful Failure

What was Moshe’s secret that enabled him to continue to fight for his goals, in spite of everything, and succeed where so many others would have failed? The answer is simple: he knew how to lose. He knew that his failures were in fact the building blocks for his future successes.

The Universal Commotion about a Little Jewish Boy Called Jesus: A Warning to Our Rabbis

How much might Judaism have benefited from people like Jesus, Elisha Ben Avuyah and Spinoza, had they not been rejected and had they contributed to the tradition in which they were raised?

Solving the Conversion Crisis – The Birth of Non-Jewish Jewish Communities: Another Approach

Today, Israel has many thousands of immigrants who are of Jewish descent, yet not halachically Jewish. Should we convert them even though we know that they will not live a fully committed Jewish life? Or should we abandon them, basically ignoring and excluding them as we do now? I believe there is a third way, a way of reconciling these difficulties.

Halacha means Liberty

A strictly secular approach to major moral issues may have to be much more restrictive than that which any religion would ever demand. In fact, a secular moral attitude may make life extremely difficult and even impossible.

Jewish Law as Rebellion: Soul Jews & Halachic Jews

Some Jews should not be Jews and some non-Jews should be Jews. Authenticity, after all, cannot be inherited; it can only be nurtured. Ideally, only those who consciously take on the Jewish mission, and live accordingly, should be considered Jews. If not for the need for a Jewish people, it would have been better to have a Jewish faith community where people can come and go depending on their willingness to commit to the Jewish religious way and its mission – similar to how other religions conduct themselves.

The In-Authenticity of Codifying Jewish Law

Halacha is the practical upshot of unfinalized beliefs, a practical way of life while remaining in theological suspense. In matters of the spirit and the quest to find God, it is not possible to come to final conclusions. The quest for God must remain open-ended to enable the human spirit to find its way through trial and discovery.

Jewish Law (Halacha) as Rebellion

Like the generation of the Tower of Babel, in which the whole world was “of one language and of one speech,” we are producing a religious Jewish community of artificial conformism in which independent thought and difference of opinion is not only condemned, but its absence is considered to be the ultimate ideal.

Be Fearful of Religion – Parashat Vayetze

Rather than ignore the body, Halacha draws a person’s attention to its complexities. It informs human beings not to fall victim to grandiose dreams. There are limits to human existence, and it is exactly this fact that makes life a challenge and a joy.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu

When teaching, our rabbis’ and teachers’ personal conduct must be a reflection of what they impart in the classroom, as there is truly no better education than by example. Thought and practice must illuminate each other.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu: On Being Controversial and the Art of Teaching

Nobody can deny that Judaism today finds itself in a crisis that threatens to have devastating consequences. Instead of Judaism growing upward, vertically, it is becoming corpulent, growing horizontally. The growth of adherence to Halacha in the last few decades has clearly not been accompanied by a true religious revival. Genuine religiosity has nothing to do with the Yiddish expression of frumkeit, an untranslatable expression of routine religious observance.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu – Lectures and the Academy

To live a life of faith is to be prepared to live a committed religious life according to an inner belief of the heart and not because there is absolute empirical certainty. There is a constant need for questioning and rethinking one’s beliefs. In many ways, religion must be warfare—a fight against the indolence and callousness that stifles inquiry.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu: The Wonder of Judaism

The breaking of idols and slaughtering of sacred cows is, in itself, a Jewish task that began with Avraham Avinu. Consequently, we should not be afraid to do so, or at least to discuss the possible need for change. This could raise some eyebrows in certain religious circles, and we might even become controversial. So, we must keep in mind that great controversies are also great emancipators. They often clarify and enhance essential philosophies behind majestic traditions.

Freud’s Subconscious Discovery of God

Jewish tradition teaches that man was created in God’s image. Whatever this may mean, it definitely includes the fact that God created man in such a way that man, in desperate need to discover himself, would constantly search for Him. Freud, we believe, gave a most original interpretation of this fact. With his discovery of the father figure he may have uncovered the mechanism through which God created an idea of Himself as the ultimate Father in the human mind.

Simchat Torah: The Unbending Sefer Torah

Ours is a future-orientated religion. We are not afraid of the latest technologies because they allow us to fulfill, in ways unimagined by our forefathers, the divine mandate to cure diseases, create more pleasant ways to live our lives, and make the world a better place. All this is beautifully expressed by our Sages, who direct us to become partners with God in the work of creation. But the very text that demands this does not allow for any changes in its content and bars us from using the latest technological devices in the writing of this same text! What is the message conveyed by this paradox?

Yom Kippur: Repenting Religious Exhaustion

What is the source of religious passion? It is the awareness that something cannot become exhausted. To appreciate Judaism and see it as a blessing is to understand that just as the ocean is unfathomable, so Judaism transcends all interpretations. Understanding Judaism cannot be attained in the comfort of observing its laws or studying its texts. It occupies infinite space, beyond the limitations of the human mind and heart.

Rosh HaShana: The Curse of Indifference

Because we Jews have experienced, as no other nation has, what indifference can lead to, it is our duty, more than anybody else, to care about our fellow human beings and be an example for the rest of the world.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu: Embryonic Judaism

Every generation must find its own way to God and subsequently to the Jewish tradition. From a religious point of view, were this not the case, there would be little reason for that generation to exist. What, after all, is the meaning of human existence if not to reveal another dimension of God’s multi-colored world and Torah, and thus to gain a greater understanding of self?

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu – The Scandal of Halachic Performance

The very fact that today we encounter a serious endeavor to see Halacha as the only expression of Judaism, and that some halachic authorities constantly attempt to bring the hashkafa (religious philosophy) of Judaism back to finalized dogmas, is a clear indication that those very authorities try to Halacha-ize issues of faith. But doing so robs Judaism of its vital flowing life force. We need to understand that Halacha is the practical upshot of un-finalized beliefs, a practical way of living while remaining in theological suspense.

The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu

There are two schools of thought in Judaism, two types of batei midrash: the Bet Midrash of Moshe Rabbeinu and the Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu. Although both of them are integral parts of Judaism, the difference between them is critical. Judaism began as an existential movement in which all that humankind does, thinks, feels, and says is touched by the spirit of God. The Bet Midrash of Avraham Avinu aims to teach in order to inspire a re-awakening and transformation of the soul. It is here that we find the roots of Judaism in their most central form.

The Turmoil in the USA

A fairy tale with much relevance to today's times.

Traveling to Home Base and Eternal Life

When confronted with death, our first reaction is consternation. We are stunned and broken. But slowly, our sense of shock gives way to a feeling of mystery. The mysterium magnum enters, and a new perspective makes itself known as a kind of revelation and elevation. Suddenly, our whole life, which we knew so well, gradually becomes concealed behind a great Secret. Our speech is silenced. Our understanding fails. There is only awe for the Other.

Betraying Judaism in the Name of Halacha

In Biblical days the Halacha was astir while the world was sleeping. Today the world is astir while the Halacha is sleeping.  Only when it wakes up and starts to challenge our society with novel ideas and rulings will it once more be the vital mover of Jewish life. It must be prepared to look inward, challenge its own verdicts and once again understand that its main function is to protest and rebel.

Halacha: To Trouble the Comfortable

For a nation to maintain sensitivity and concern for “the other,” it must continue to live in some form of strangerhood. It must never be fully secure, and must constantly be aware of its own existential uncertainty. As such, the Jew is to be a stranger.

Halachic Fundamentalism and Intellectual Dishonesty

We are in need of a radically different kind of yeshiva: one in which students are confronted with serious challenges to Halacha and its weltanschauung and learn how to respond; where they become aware that it is not certainty, but doubt, that gets you an education; where it is not Rabbinic authority that reigns supreme, but religious authenticity.

The Problem and Future of True Halacha

Like the generation of the Tower of Babel, in which the whole world was “of one language and of one speech,” we are producing a religious Jewish community of artificial conformism in which independent thought and difference of opinion is not only condemned, but its absence is considered to be the ultimate ideal.

Handicapped Students and Secular Indoctrination

Israeli teachers should create tension in the classroom by presenting their own ideas about Judaism and Jewishness, and then wage war on them, asking the students to fight them with knives between their teeth and come up with new ideas. In that way, the students will begin to appreciate and love what Judaism is all about. And only then should the teachers introduce biblical, Talmudic and midrashic texts as part of the discussion.

In Defense of Rabbi Dweck and Orthodox Judaism

If the Spanish-Portuguese community and Chief Rabbi Mervis give in to blatant blackmail by ultra-Orthodox elements then rabbis will no longer be able to speak their minds. The S&P and other communities will lose their independence and be subject to censure by all sorts of self-acclaimed rabbinical extremists, creating a situation that will terribly compromise Judaism.

The Waters of Strife – the Devastation of Religious Coercion

For the sake of later generations—who would need to know that the ways of the Torah are ways of pleasantness, of the gentle word and not the hard strike—God denied Moshe the merit of living in the land. In this way, He made it clear to all that leaders who seek to turn Israel into a holy nation by way of threat or by force may very well bring disaster on themselves and their people.

A Modern Day Inquisition – Rabbi Joseph Dweck: The Tragic Story of Rabbinical Small-mindedness

When Orthodox rabbis are told that they are no longer able to speak their minds, offer new insights into Orthodox Judaism, or try to find solutions to serious problems by using innovative ideas, we are faced with a rabbinical world that is wearing blinders, is comprised of yes-people looking over their shoulders, and is generating a hazardous small-mindedness that has far-reaching effects.

Speaking Lashon HaRa about the World

The world is far from ideal, but it seems that we view our globe as we would a white paper with a black spot on it. When asked what we see, we say, “a black spot,” completely ignoring the white paper. It is only the odd, the out-of-place that catches our attention. Why is this?

The Holocaust: Divine Retribution?

It is difficult to argue that the Holocaust was caused by divine anger for the violations of Torah precepts and deliberate heresy. The curses in the Torah are meant to come down on those who, against better judgment, and with the full understanding that they are violating God’s will, decide to do so; but not on those who are confused by or are the victims of others’ misunderstandings.

Shavuot: The Desert and the Wandering Divine Word

Only BaMidbar, in the emptiness and silence of the desert, that the authentic Word can be heard—a Word stripped of all distractions. Naked, without any excuse. But it can be heard only by a people of the wilderness; a people who are not rooted in a substance of physical limitations and borders; a people who are not entirely fixed by an earthly point, even while living in a homeland. They are never satisfied with their spiritual conditions and are therefore always on the road, looking for more.

The Ban on Circumcision: Blatant Anti-Semitism and Ignorance

What gives us the right to bring a child into a religious covenant by way of circumcision, without his consent? Circumcision, after all, to be Jewish means to be part of a nation that is rooted in a covenant that asks Jews to risk their very existence for the sake of a moral and religious mission. How can we commit children to a lifelong mission that they may not wish to fulfill? On the other hand, what right do we have to bring children into the world without giving them a higher mission? What right do we have to throw children into this turbulent jungle, filling them with anxieties and uncertainties, without giving them a clue as to their higher purpose?

Kohanim: The Challenge of Educational Dissent

Living Judaism must be able to stand up against ideas that are highly un-Jewish and at the same time be open to new ideas. But this can be achieved only by fostering a notion of spiritual dissent rooted in eternal ideas that have the capacity to re-invent themselves. It can be accomplished only by radical thinking and audacity informed by deep learning and faith.

The Unchallenged Holiness of the Jew: A Dangerous Claim

When contemplating the re-establishment of the State of Israel after nearly 2000 years of exile, no Jew should believe that the land is guaranteed to remain theirs forever. It could easily be taken away, as it has been in the past. If its inhabitants do not behave properly. If they hide behind the claim that they are observant or moral, while in fact they are fighting each other and disobeying the ethical dictates of God, the Book of Amos makes it clear that the State of Israel will not endure. Nor can we hide behind the abundance of Torah learning today to save us.

Boredom and the Immature Elderly

In the old days, it was a privilege to be mature. It was something people strived for. It meant maturity of attitude, well-considered opinions, and a great amount of experience and knowledge of how to deal with the problems of life. This is no longer the case.

Sefirat HaOmer: What really counts

Nothing is more dangerous for a person than to remain spiritually stale, and we are therefore required to count the 49 days of the Omer. In order to prepare ourselves for the upcoming celebration of Shavuot and the giving of the Torah, we are asked to climb a ladder of 49 spiritual steps, each day adding another dimension to our souls.

Pesach: God’s Sporadic Presence and Overwhelming Absence in Human History

Contrary to what is commonly believed, the story of the Exodus was mainly one of Divine silence, in which only occasionally a word of God entered the human condition. While Pesach Haggada relates the miracles, the “empty spaces” in between tell us of a frightening Divine silence of some 38 years. And just as our forefathers must have often wondered where God was all those years, so do we. But just as they made it through, so must we.

Parashat VaYikra: The Trouble with Sacrifices

We need to ask ourselves a pertinent question: Is our aversion to sacrifices the result of our supreme spiritual sophistication, which caused us to leave the world of sacrifices behind us? Or, have we sunk so low that we aren’t even able to reach the level of idol worshipers who, however primitive we believe them to have been, possessed a higher spiritual level than some of us who call ourselves monotheists?

Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik and his Paradoxical Influence

While I greatly admire Rabbi Soloveitchik’s essays such as The Lonely Man of Faith, I wonder why he never addressed some of the issues that keep many people away from Orthodoxy, such as the issue of Torah Min HaShamayim and Bible criticism. It may be true that the Rav avoided the issue of Bible criticism out of principle. But if so, then he was out of touch with reality. At the time, Bible criticism was a major topic of discussion, as it still is. This subject is of utmost importance, and if anyone could have dealt with it head-on it was the Rav.

The Tent of Meeting and Johann Sebastian Bach

The divine instructions relating to the building and the architecture of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are laid out in great detail; not even the smallest nuance is excluded, and nothing is left to human imagination. Preciseness stands out, and every pin and string is mentioned. This is in total opposition to the spiritual condition and devotion required of every Israelite when helping to erect the Mishkan, which called for personal input, creativity and inspiration. How do we reconcile these contradictions: formality versus spontaneity; total commitment to the letter of the law versus unprecedented emotional outbursts of religious devotion? Are such notions not mutually exclusive and irreconcilable?

Purim and the Challenge of the Holocaust

Why continue to praise God for a hidden miracle when it seems that even hidden miracles came to an end with the Holocaust? This question should be on the mind of every Jew who celebrates Purim.

Sinai Now!

Learning Torah is equivalent to standing at Sinai. Learning Torah is hearing it and consequently seeing its contents transmitted at Sinai in the here and now. So the learning of its text is a religious happening, the experience of something that normally can only be recalled.

Parshat Yitro: Racism and the Wisdom of a Gentile

The Israelites' experience of slavery had made them utterly convinced that mankind at large was anti-Semitic. God therefore sent them a righteous gentile by the name of Yitro, to impress upon them that the non-Jewish world includes remarkable people, who not only possess much wisdom but actually love the people of Israel and contribute to Jewish life.

The Genius and Limitations of Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik z”l

Rav Soloveitchik himself was a traditionalist, who combined that ideology with religious Zionism and tried very hard to give it a place in the world of philosophy and modernity. He was unable to overcome the enormous tension between these two worlds and so became a “lonely man of faith,” with no disciples but with many students, each one of whom claimed their own Rav Soloveitchik. The truth is that the real Rav Soloveitchik was more than the sum total of all of them – a man of supreme greatness who was a tragic figure.

The Chief Rabbinate and Its Disgrace: Who Is an Exceptionally Great Sage?

Only when making a sincere effort to reduce the pain of one’s fellow human beings can one be called a great person! Chief Rabbis, as well as other halachic authorities who do not apply this approach, are not only inadequate religious leaders, but they also become an obstacle to Judaism and should step down. Allowing them to maintain their authority is a sheer disgrace.

The Unknowable, Loving and Aggravating God

Judaism declares that emotions are what make a person; they are real and of crucial importance. In fact, emotions are central to a person’s existence, since they are the foundation of moral behavior. It is for this reason that Judaism views God as an emotional Being. By metaphorically attributing emotions to God, they are raised to a supreme state. If God has emotions such as love, mercy, jealousy and anger, then they must be genuine, important, and not ignored when found in humans.

Rabbinical Tyranny and Freedom of Thought

Religious condemnations, whether by bans or by other means, reflect negatively on those who issue them. Truth will not be served by imposing bans and issuing condemnations, but only by honest investigation and dialogue.

Calling for Religious Unity Only Leads to Division – The Need for Personal Conscience

In our day, the word “tolerance” has become very popular, as have words such as “pluralism,” “democracy,” and “unity.” These terms are used so often that one would hope most people have a proper understanding of their meanings. This is, however, far from true.

Torah beyond Halakhah – Interview with Rabbi Cardozo – Part Two

In last week’s Thoughts to Ponder (no 623), we published the first half of an interview with Rabbi Cardozo. At the end of his observations, Rabbi Cardozo discussed the codification and dogmatization of Jewish Law and religious beliefs as they took place in the diaspora and showed that these developments did not do justice to—and in fact opposed authentic Judaism. Here is the continuation of his arguments.

Syria and the Scandal of Our Orthodox Synagogues

“Lord of the Universe, I beg You to redeem Israel; but if You do not want to do that, then I beg You to redeem the gentiles.” Rabbi Yisrael Hopstein, Maggid of Kozhnitz and legendary Chassidic leader in Poland (1733-1814) (1) When Rabbi Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972), the famous American Chassidic thinker who lived […]

God and the Fires – Part Two

Do terrible tragedies which afflict the innocent beg the question of whether it is more honest to deny God’s existence? Does all the pain in this world not make a strong case for such a proposition? Is the constant attempt to justify God’s existence, by way of apologetics, not a farce, and futile?

God and The Fires -“Because of Our Sins, This Has Befallen Us?” Part One

Only two weeks ago nearly all of the land of Israel was surrounded by huge fires which destroyed thousands of homes and possessions. Luckily and because of the great and heroic effort of so many fire brigades from Israel and other countries this time nobody lost her or his life unlike in the 2010 Mt. Carmel forest fire, when over 44 people lost their lives.

The Abuse of Halacha: Keeping Halacha under Control (2)

The foremost point of departure in any halachic decision must be that all people are created in the image of God and that all human life is holy. While different tasks, inclinations, and historical events should be recognized and allow for distinctions between people, no discrimination can ever be tolerated.

The Abuse of Halacha: Keeping Halacha under Control – Part 1

Judaism is in trouble. More and more of the unacceptable is being done and said in its name. Besides causing infinite damage to Judaism’s great message, it is a terrible desecration of God’s name. And all of this is seen and heard by millions of gentiles watching television, browsing websites, or listening to the radio.

Walking Mountains, Shabbat and the Buddha

It is well known that the institution of Shabbat is one of the best inventions God ever came up with. It no doubt qualifies Him to receive the Nobel Prize for innovative thinking, and the venerable judges in Sweden should sincerely consider bestowing this honor on the Lord of the Universe.

The Curse of Religious Boredom

Psychologists tell us that one of man's greatest enemies today is boredom. Sometimes, when reading a paper or popular journal; watching television or a DVD; using an MP3 or an iPod; or posting on Facebook every hour to inform our friends of what we just did, we are confronted with the most absurd manifestations of monotony and apathy.

Torah: The Unavoidable and Disturbing Text

Torah study has become nearly impossible, and the problem lies not with the Torah but with the reader. Reading the text requires courage. Not to open the Book and start reading, but courage to confront oneself. Learning Torah requires human authenticity; it means standing in front of a mirror and asking yourself the daunting question of who you really are, without masks and artificialities.

The Deliberately Flawed Divine Torah

I believe that the Torah is min hashamayim (“from heaven”) and that its every word is divine and holy. But I do not believe that the Torah is (always) historically true (sometimes it seems like Divine fiction), or that it is uninfluenced by external sources.

Simchat Torah, The Rush and the Stagnation – the Need for Independent Torah Interpretation

For hundreds of years, we Jews have followed the custom of completing the yearly Torah reading in the synagogue on the day of Simchat Torah, only to immediately begin all over again. Why the rush? There is nearly no time to contemplate what one has read the previous year!

Succot, Approaching Tragedy with Joy

As is well known, the Succah visualizes our life span in the world. For what is a Succah? It is a frail structure which we need to dwell in for seven days. Many commentators remind us that these seven days represent man's average life span which is about seventy years.

Yom Kippur: Who is Able to Eat?

This awesome thought is the focal point of Yom Kippur. Am I worthy to have a claim on life? Or, have I been born but lost my right to live? This is by far the most important question for man to ask. The trembling of the earlier generations on Erev Yom Kippur was indeed that of great pachad (fear) – not fear of punishment or death, but of not rising to the challenge of living in God’s presence and fulfilling one’s destiny!

Rosh Hashana – Do We Dare to Blow the Shofar?

Something strange happens on Rosh Hashana. We spend hours declaring God’s majesty, using poetic and unique phrases. We refer to Him as the Ultimate King and Mover of this world. We ask Him to strengthen and reinforce His relationship with us and show us His omnipotence.

Against Indifference: A Prayer for the World

There is probably no greater curse in our world today than the curse of indifference. While we are surrounded by abundant beauty and have much to be thankful for, millions of innocent people live lives of war, hunger, displacement, and other disasters. Here is a prayer, in Hebrew and English, which I suggest we say in all our synagogues on Shabbat, when saying the prayer for the State of Israel and our soldiers, or when praying at home. It is not just a prayer to God; it is also meant as a reminder to us not to remain indifferent to the pain in our world and to what requires our care and serious attention.

God Does Not Exist

Jewish tradition forbids the pronunciation of the four-letter name of God. This name, rooted in the Hebrew word for “being,” consists of the Hebrew letters: Yud, Heh, Vav and Heh. According to the Sages of Israel, the name reflects the different dimensions of “being” related to time: past, present and future. Can we say that such a being "exists"?

Yes to Faith, No to Dogma – For Poets, Musicians, Artists and Deep Souls

The difference between dogma and faith is like the difference between a word spoken and a word set to music. Faith is the refutation of human finality. It transforms dogma into something untouchable and gives man entry into the imponderable.

Let Us Violate Shabbat So As To Sanctify It – The Holy Day and the Tel Aviv Railway

Shabbat is serious business, not only because of its halachic requirements but also because of its magnificent and majestic message. To violate it is not just a transgression but a tragedy.

Wanted: Rabbis with Knives between Their Teeth – The Need for a Genuine Upheaval

When I contemplate the future of the State of Israel and its inhabitants, I realize more and more that religious Judaism must become its primary driving force so as not merely to survive but to actually flourish. Without Judaism Israel will not make it.

A Slap in the Face to the Holy One Blessed Be He?-Some Afterthoughts on Tish’ah be-Av

I must confess that this year’s Tish’ah be-Av, a few days ago, was the first time in 54 years (since I was 16) that I did not go to synagogue to hear Eichah (the reading from the Scroll of Lamentations) and recite kinot (elegies written by famous sages throughout the centuries regarding the destruction of both Temples and the many later tragedies that befell the Jewish people).

Tisha B’Av – Rabbinic Despair and Simple Courage

In the wake of the destruction of Jerusalem the leaders of the Jewish people despaired. But the ordinary Jews did not. Despite the total collapse of Jewish life, they opted for the impossible. They not to listen to their leaders, but continued building the nation of Israel, as they had previously been taught by the very sages who now despaired. Sometimes, the simple man has more faith in the Jewish future than the greatest Talmudic scholar.

The Chaos Theory of Halacha – Part 3 of 3

Halacha is in need of more “chaos.” It must allow for many ways to live a halachic life unbound by too many restrictions of conformity and codification. It must make room for autonomy on the part of individuals, to choose their own way once they have undertaken to observe the foundations of Halacha.

The Chaos Theory of Halacha (Part 2 of 3)

One of the most remarkable aspects of Orthodox Halacha is that it is almost an open market within the confines of the masoret, an unwritten and undefined tradition going back thousands of years. Some will view the masoret as a minimal and almost fundamentalist observance, and others will view it as a maximal and highly flexible tradition, which allows for much innovation.

The Chaos Theory of Halacha (Part 1 of 3)

Chaos is God’s signature when He prefers to remain anonymous. The same can be said about Halacha. Halacha is the chaotic way through which God wants the Jew to live his life, according to strict rules that seem to be part of a well-worked-out system. People do not come before God as actors in a play that has been planned down to the minutest detail. If they did, they would be robots and life would be a farce.

Faith is the Joy of Religious Doubt and Uncertainty – Part 2

To have faith is to live with unresolved doubts, prepared to rise above ourselves and our wisdom. Looking into the Jewish tradition with its many debates, one clearly understands that those who deny themselves the comfort of certainty are much more authentic than those who are sure.

Faith is the Joy of Religious Doubt and Uncertainty – Part 1

We are currently living in a transitional phase of monumental proportions and far-reaching consequences. Our religious beliefs are being challenged as never before. We are forced to our knees due to extreme shifts and radical changes in scientific discoveries; our understanding of the origins of our holy texts; our belief in God; the meaning of our lives; and the historical developments of our tradition

The Kotel – Have We Gone Mad?

You, dear readers, must forgive me for asking this question, but: Have we Jews gone mad? Kotel mad? Have we lost it? Are we Jews, who represent the best brains in the world, incapable of solving a minor – albeit pressing – problem in our long history of unprecedented upheavals and unparalleled challenges?

Israel, the American Elections and the Turmoil in Our World

Once upon a time, in a large, gloomy palace high on a mountain, where the night wind howled outside its massive walls, there lived a king—a real one. He had a beard as long as a silver waterfall and a voice that boomed like thunder. A king needs no more.

Shavuot: Would You Convert? Like Yitro?

As we are daily confronted with a steady increase in the number of Jews who have not only left the fold but are actively involved in anti-Jewish activity inside and outside Israel, it would perhaps be meaningful to study an episode in the life of a biblical non-Jew who decided to join the Jewish people at all costs.

Parshat Bechukotai – The Miracle of Satisfaction

“Your threshing season will last until your grape harvest, and your grape harvest will last until the time you plant. You will have your fill of food, and you will dwell securely in your land.” (1) This blessing is promised to the people of Israel on condition that, as a unified nation, they observe the laws of the Torah and live by its spirit. Its promise is quite surprising.

The Omer: Giving Birth

As a woman anticipates giving birth, so the people of Israel await the redemption. The labour pains start with ten plagues. Toward the end, the people are confined to their homes: "You shall not leave your houses until morning." They await the birth.

Yom Hashoa: The Quest for Authenticity – Rembrandt and the Holocaust

On Yom Hashoa one can virtually smell the blood of the six million Jews killed, including one and a half million children. Walking through Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, I see the faces of many of them, and it is not difficult to imagine that these children could have been mine. After all, I missed the Holocaust by a hair’s breadth.

Blessed Are Those Who Eat Chametz!

The Talmud (1) poses the following question: Why is it prohibited to eat or to possess chametz (leaven), such as bread, on Pesach? What is there in the nature of leaven that makes it forbidden on Pesach? For that matter, why only on Pesach?

The True Art of Sport: Game or Torture?

Jews in earlier centuries were never seriously involved in sport, though. This is most likely due to the historical conditions of Second Temple period. With Alexander the Great’s conquest of the land of Israel in the 4th century BCE, Hellenist culture began to infiltrate the Jewish way of life. In fact, it was the attempts by Antiochus Epiphanes to Hellenize Judea that led to a declaration of war on the part of the Maccabees.

Parshat Shemini – Are You Really Eating Kosher?

Kosher animals, as is well known, can be identified by two simanim (physical signs). They must chew their cud, and their hooves must be wholly cloven. (2) In order to be kosher, the animal must possess both simanim. The Torah goes out of its way to emphasize the fact that an animal in which only one sign is present cannot be considered kosher in any way.

The Making of an Enemy – The Birth of Amalek

The Jews’ most formidable enemy in Biblical times was the nation of Amalek. This nation was, and symbolically still is, the personification of evil, brutality, racism and anti-Semitism. Amalek is seared into the Jewish consciousness as the unprecedented enemy of the People of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. What revealed Amalek’s moral bankruptcy was not only that they dared to fight the Israelites; it was their strategy as well. They attacked the Israelites from the back, focusing on the weak and tired people. (1)

Purim, God’s Hidden Face, and the Advantage of a Permanent Job

The story of Esther centers around a famous talmudic principle called hester panim (the concealed face of God). This refers to the belief that at times divine intervention in the affairs of human beings is no longer at work and that conditions are left to the forces of nature and to the inconstancy of historical developments. This is mostly, but not always, seen as a type of divine punishment for the failure to observe the commandments. (2)

Rabbinical Courage and the Frozen Text

The Talmud discusses the identity of a Gavra Rabba, an exceptionally great person or Torah sage. It quotes a most remarkable observation made by the well-known Sage Rava, who states: “How foolish are some people who stand up [out of respect] for a Sefer Torah but do not stand up for a Gavra Rabba” (1).

Have Some Pity on the Anti-Semite!

The anti-Semitic world has a hard time with us Jews, and we should feel some pity for all those who work relentlessly to give us a bad name. They boycott us in academia, journalism, European governments, the market place, or just in the streets of daily life. But let’s be honest. Aren’t they right? Are we not truly a nuisance?

Shut Down the Kotel!

I was not planning to write about this, because by now the issue has sparked so much debate of such low quality that it has embarrassed Judaism, the Jewish people and the Kotel itself.

Mission Statement of the David Cardozo Academy – A Remorseless Judaism

Judaism is about bold ideas. Its goal is not to find the truth, but to inspire us to honestly search for it. Torah study is not only the greatest undertaking there is, but also the most dangerous, since it can easily lead to self-satisfaction and spiritual conceit. The leashing of our souls is easier than the building of our spirit.

Milk and Meat: The Dangerous Mixture – Parshat Mishpatim

There is one law in the Jewish tradition that no doubt has puzzled many scholars: that which prohibits the mixing of milk and meat. Its source is found in the Torah (1), but no clue is provided as to its meaning. Strangely enough, it is this mysterious law that has had the greatest influence on the daily life of Jews for thousands of years, right up to this very day.

Halacha as the Art of Playing Chess – Divine Insanity

There is probably no game as difficult and captivating as chess. Millions of people break their heads over strategies to win this game and spend years learning its ins and outs. It holds them captive as nothing else does. They dream about it and discuss the move of one single pawn as if their lives depend on it.

Am I Still Orthodox? – Answer to a Jerusalem Rabbi

Once the city magistrates of 17-century Amsterdam had made it abundantly clear to the Portuguese-Spanish Jewish Community that it could settle in Amsterdam only on condition that no member would ever dare to challenge the belief in the biblical God and the Old and New Testaments, Spinoza’s so-called heretical ideas became a serious challenge for the rabbis and leaders. It was a clear infringement of the agreement with the City of Amsterdam.

The Desecration of Halacha

Twenty years ago, Yigal Amir assassinated Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin in the name of Halacha (Jewish law), claiming that the prime minister was a rodef (someone who is attempting or planning to murder) because he put all citizens of the State of Israel in mortal danger once he participated in the 1993 Oslo accords.

The Threat of Freedom

When reading the story of the Exodus from Egypt, we are confronted with a strange phenomenon: the mashchit (destroyer). After the Jews were told to mark their doorposts with the blood of the korban pesach (paschal lamb), they were informed that God would pass over their doors “and He will not allow the destroyer (ha-mashchit) to enter your homes and attack you” (1).

The Art of Praying (1)

How does man dare to speak to God, the Master of the Universe? The presumption that man can just open his mouth and believe that God will listen to him is unrivaled impertinence. When someone wishes to get an audience with the Queen, much paperwork has to be done, many meetings are held by ministers and officials, and security issues are considered.

Spinoza – It Is Time to Lift The Ban

Spinoza, the celebrated seventeenth-century Amsterdam Jewish philosopher, is known as the father of the Enlightenment and has influenced generations of philosophers to this day. At the age of 23, he was excommunicated by the Portuguese-Spanish Jewish community of Amsterdam because of his heresies, which included his denying the existence of the Biblical God as well as the divinity of the Torah.

Needed: Redemptive Halakhah – How Halakhah Must Transcend Itself

In September 2015 the Journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, “Conversations”, published a long ground breaking essay on the need to redeem the Halacha and to bring it into line with the larger mission of the Jewish people in our days. Below are some segments.

Chanukah: Hypocrisy or Authenticity

One of the great problems any religious person must struggle with is whether or not it is actually possible to be religious. What, after all, is the essence of genuine religiosity? It is no doubt the cognizance that one lives in the presence of God and feels and acts accordingly.

A Prophetic View: The Gentile Aliyah Epidemic

We will soon have to expand our borders far beyond our wildest dreams – this time at the request of millions of Europeans, Americans and possibly many others who will wish to come on Aliyah.

Oh, that I Could Take Off My Kippah!

I need to be honest. I am contemplating taking off my kippah. Why, you might ask? I no longer want to be observant. Observance, for me and for many young people, has become irrelevant. It has been used by large sections of religious Jews to live in self-assured ease. Their religion is part of their contentment.

Admitting A Mistake: Even God Does.

Nothing is more difficult than admitting a mistake, yet nothing is more human than making one. This may well be the reason why even God sometimes makes a "mistake." In a famous passage in the Talmud, we read that the Sages decided a certain law against the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer who was known to be the sharpest mind of his day and was fully supported by God:

How Old Would You Be If You Did Not Know How Old You Are?

As I watch some of my friends entering retirement, I realize how dangerous it is to “take it easy” and fall into the pit of idleness, thinking that one is at the peak of one’s life while one may very well be at its lowest point. Retirement can be a real killer, and surviving its hazards is an art.

The Religious Scandal of Akeidat Yitzchak and the Tragic God Parashat Lech Lecha

What is Avraham to do now? Should he rescue God from Himself and refuse to have a hand in this suicide attempt? Or should he perhaps become an atheist? After all, such a God cannot exist! But Avraham chooses neither of these options.

Israel: The Blessing of Insecurity

Israel is summoned to remind the world of God’s existence, not only concerning religion but also as a historical reality. There is no security for Israel unless it is secure in its own destiny. We must shoulder the burden of our own singularity, which means nothing less than fulfilling our role as God’s witness. And we must draw strength from this phenomenon, especially in times like these when Israel’s very existence is again at stake. Once Israel recognizes its uniqueness, it will, paradoxically, enjoy security and undoubtedly be victorious.

Spinoza’s Blunder And Noach’s Misguided Religiosity

In his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Spinoza accuses Judaism of demanding obsessive and outrageous obedience. Parashat Noach teaches us that while Spinoza’s assessment is entirely mistaken, it is a warning to many religious Jews who know nothing other than "negative" obedience as opposed to positive obedience. Judaism teaches us to stand on our own feet and make our own decisions.

Tragedy and the Silence of God

How do we live with a God Who sometimes violates all that our own limited thoughts and feelings can grasp and express? It would be easier if we could deny God's very existence, the grandeur of all creation is too powerful to allow us to deny that He is there. But how are we to answer His silence when tragedy strikes?

Simchat Torah – Needed: Extraordinary Torah Commentary

The Torah reading in synagogue is not conventional Torah learning, but rather a kind of a wake-up call. We are shocked by the text before we even have a chance to get used to its deeper content. And although we have read it for many years, the fact that the story appears again an entire year later, and no earlier, gives us a chance to forget it and then rediscover it as never before.

Sukkot: Joy in Insecurity

No matter how powerfully the outside walls and the leaking roof reveal our vulnerability and uncertainty, inside these walls we need to make our life as attractive as possible and enjoy its great benefits and blessings.

The Secret of Kal Nidrei – We Are All Marranos

I would like to suggest that in the last few hundred years nearly all Jews have become marranos. Although no longer forced to convert to Christianity, or any other religion, they willfully adopt philosophies that estrange them from their Jewish roots. Alienation has become the very condition under which most Jews today live their lives. They believe that Judaism is outdated and needs to be replaced. Often they arrive at such conclusions due to a lack of Jewish knowledge and a greater familiarity with non-Jewish sources.

Rosh Hashana: Is Judaism Your Supreme Passion?

Why is it, asks the Talmud, that children of the Sages rarely became talmudic scholars and pious Jews? Should it not have been they, more than anyone, who walked in the footsteps of their parents, reaching even greater heights in learning and genuine observance? How could it be that their parents, the Sages, did not provide them with the tools to do so? The answer has important implications for all of us.

Courage, Rabbis, Courage! The Need For Mass Conversion

Rather than waiting until a potential convert is ready to take on all of Jewish law, and only then converting them, we should first convert them, and then slowly introduce them to Jewish religious values and Halacha. This should be done by way of gentle persuasion and love, with no coercion whatsoever. We must give them the option of making their own choices, introducing them to a ladder of observance that they can climb at their own pace and within their own abilities.

Conversion and Annie Fischer’s Interpretation of Schumann’s Klavierkonzert in A Minor

Just as a human being who’s never had an encounter with classical music won’t know what he’s missing until he is introduced to Mozart, Beethoven or Bach, so it is with Judaism. But it all depends on who is playing the music.

The Immortal Highway – Parashat Re’eh

In the Torah, nobody dies; rather, one is “gathered to his ancestors.” No neshama becomes dust, and no spirit turns to ashes. It is neshamot that compose immortal and untouchable words, create infinite art and abstract thoughts.

Torah: Hearing the Divine Voice at Sinai Now

Rabbi Dostai bar Yannai said, in the name of Rabbi Meir: ”Whoever forgets [even] one word of his [Torah] learning, the Scripture considers him worthy of death.” But why should a person’s failure to remember a detail of Torah that he learned be considered proof that he forgot what he had seen with his own eyes when he stood at Sinai?

The Temple is of Little Importance

One of the most puzzling elements of Jewish Tradition is the institution of sacrificial rites in the Temple. Although the Temple serves many purposes, sacrifices lie at the very heart of its mission. There are profound differences of opinion among the early and later commentators regarding how to understand the meaning of sacrifices. Are they really an integral part of Judaism, or simply a compromise to human weakness and something to be gradually abandoned?(

Needed: Majestic Mountains, Rembrandts, and Music Baths

The Sages made a number of remarkable observations concerning beauty. The Torah commands the urban planners in Israel to leave 1000 amot (cubits) of untilled land around each of the cities to be given to the Levites, allowing nature to manifest its beauty. The Sages further mandate that one must remove all unseemly objects, and even not plant trees in the immediate vicinity of a city, to ensure that the landscape will always be pleasing. Beauty – whether in nature, art, or music – can calm us when we are stressed, or inspire our creativity and spur us on to great accomplishments. Jewish educators should encourage our children to study and appreciate natural beauty, art, and music. This should be done within the framework of the school and home, with emphasis on the religious significance of the aesthetic experience. With the proper perspective, visiting an art museum, or taking a walk in the woods, can effect real spiritual growth.

The Supreme Court of the United States, Same-Sex Marriage and Other Prohibitions

Now that the Supreme Court of the United States has legalized same-sex marriage, we need to ask ourselves why there has never been any discussion about other illegal sexual relationships, such as incest, and why a union as obvious as a heterosexual marriage is actually permitted. This question may sound very strange, even disturbing and shocking, but it is one of the most profound questions we must ask. Doing so will help us understand what is behind the fierce debate that is now taking place concerning the Supreme Court’s decision.

Faith Means Joyful Uncertainty

We are currently living in a transitional phase of monumental proportions and far-reaching consequences. Our religious beliefs are being challenged as never before. We are forced to our knees due to extreme shifts and radical changes in scientific discoveries; our understanding of the origins of our holy texts; our belief in God; the meaning of our lives; and the historical developments of our tradition. We find ourselves on the precipice, and it is becoming more and more of a balancing act not to fall off the cliff.

Faith Means Joyful Uncertainty

We are currently living in a transitional phase of monumental proportions and far-reaching consequences. Our religious beliefs are being challenged as never before. We are forced to our knees due to extreme shifts and radical changes in scientific discoveries; our understanding of the origins of our holy texts; our belief in God; the meaning of our lives; and the historical developments of our tradition. We find ourselves on the precipice, and it is becoming more and more of a balancing act not to fall off the cliff.

Religion is Dangerous – Plato, Halacha and Dreams

Being religious is fraught with danger. Man is often pulled in directions where he can easily break his neck. To be religious is to allow your neshama (soul) to surpass your body, taking the latter to places where it cannot dwell and is asked to commit suicide.

In spite of Religion, God is still around

It is in those who are still uncomfortable with God that new insights about Him are formed. And it will be in those uneasy environments that Judaism will be rediscovered and developed. The need for religious transcendence, and for the spiritual thread that keeps many young people on their toes, is enormous. Numerous secular people are joining a new category of spiritual theologians. Matters of weltanschauung are pivotal to many secular Jews now. The problem is that for them, and for the religious, the Torah is transmitted on a wavelength that is out of range of their spiritual transistors’ frequency. Yes, we turn on the radio, but we hear strange noises and unusual static. There is serious transmission failure. We are no longer sure where the pipelines are. God has relocated.

Bold Ideas: Take the Bike or Tram, Get a Free Coffee, and Observe Shabbat!

One of the great challenges, if not the greatest, is Shabbat, the only official day of rest in Israeli society when people enjoy visiting their parents and friends who live far away or who may be in hospital. Many would love to go to a restaurant and enjoy an afternoon ride through neighborhoods in Yerushalayim or other cities. But none of this is possible without the use of cars or taxis and with no open restaurants. This article offers some suggestions to overcome these obstacles.

Halacha: The Disturbing Search for God

Religion is a protest against taking life for granted. There are no insignificant phenomena or deeds in this world, and it is through Judaism’s demands and far-reaching interference in our daily life that we are made aware of God as our steadfast Companion. This is clearly the meaning of the famous talmudic statement by Rabbi Chanania ben Akashia (2) when he said: “The Holy One blessed be He desired to make Israel worthy, therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance, as it is said: ‘God desires for the sake of His righteousness that the Torah be expanded and strengthened. ’” (3).

Make Anti-Semitism a Source of Jewish Pride

While we must help to combat anti-Semitism in every way possible, we should be aware that it is not a Jewish problem. Its solution will be possible only when the world makes peace with ethical Judaism. Only when Jews will be able to convince the world of the power of Jewish ethics, and will ensure that it is taught in every classroom, church and mosque is there a chance that anti-Semitism will slowly come to an end.

Shavuot: The Wonder and Glow of God’s Word

This is the great challenge facing today’s halachic authorities: are their decisions made in a sterile vacuum in which every surprise is ignored and even suppressed? Or, are they made to stimulate a religious condition in which man will live in great awe, will grow, and will feel Halacha’s inner spirit? Are today’s rulings transformative, or do they promote stagnation? Shall we have prophetic Halacha, or petty Halacha?

The Dangling Bridges of Halacha

Halacha makes rules where rules should not exist but need to exist lest chaos ensue. But it is these very rules that create unsolvable problems that are inherent to our existence.

Yeshivot and the Toy Industry The Art of Imagination

One of the most unique talents with which human beings are blessed with is the faculty of imagination. Unlike any other creature, the human has nearly unlimited potential for constructive fantasy.

Yom Ha’atzmaut – There Is No Security For Israel Unless It Is Secure In Its Own Destiny

Israel's inability to conform to any framework is a living avowal of our uniqueness. Israel’s very existence is the manifestation of divine intervention in history to which it must attest. In Israel, history and revelation are one. Only there do they coincide. While other nations exist as nations, the people of Israel exist as a reminder of God’s involvement in world history. Only through Israel is humanity touched by the divine.

Jumping Into Deep Waters -The Cornerstone of Judaism

Judaism is about new ideas. It is dependent on fresh concepts deeply rooted in its tradition. Innovative thinking is the need of the hour. It is time for halachic authorities, rabbis, and religious thinkers to take notice of the immense changes that have taken place in our day. Never has the world gone through so many adjustments in so short a time. Never have the Jewish people been confronted with so many challenges. It is not only the security of the State of Israel that is at stake, but even more so, its very spirit and spiritual future.

What Is Really Wrong With Chametz?

The Talmud poses the following question: Why is it prohibited to eat or to possess chametz (leavened food) on Pesach? What is there in the nature of chametz that makes it forbidden on Pesach? And what is so special about matzah that makes it the most desirable food to eat on this holiday?

Rejection or Integration: The Secret of Pesach

It is characteristic of the Jewish tradition that once its foundations have been well established, the structure of Judaism stands like an unshakable mountain and can weather any unwelcome influences from without. It can then absorb all forms of genuine human wisdom if they will add to a deeper understanding of Judaism and grant the Jew a greater commitment to his tradition. Judaism has never been afraid to confront human wisdom and has always proudly responded to attacks on its tradition.

Parshat Vayikra – Sacrifices: Progressive or Regressive Judaism?

The Judaism of today is a concession to human weakness, but at the same time a belief in the greatness and strength of man. It calls upon man to do whatever is in his power to climb as high as possible, but warns him not to overstep and fall into the abyss. Judaism asks man to be a magnificent being, but never an angel – because to be too much is to be less than. But Judaism also believes that man may one day reach the point where what is impossible today may be possible tomorrow. What ought to be may someday become reality. It is that gap that Halacha tries to fill. Indeed, a mediator.

Parshat Pekudei and Johann Sebastian Bach (TTP-431)

Achilles: You mean, the composer was Bach, and these were the so-called “Goldberg Variations”? Tortoise: Do I ever! Actually, the work was entitled “Aria with Diverse Variations,” of which there are thirty. Do you know how Bach structured these magnificent variations?

Parshat Pekudei and Johann Sebastian Bach

Since the Torah is normally very parsimonious with its words, nothing is more surprising in Parshat Pekudei (and Vayakhel) than the great amount of detail and repetition in the divine instructions relating to the building of theMishkan (Tabernacle). Not even the smallest nuance is excluded, and nothing is left to human imagination. Preciseness stands out, and every pin and string is mentioned. This seems to stand in total opposition to the spiritual condition and devotion that was required of every Israelite when busy building or helping to erect the Mishkan. How do we reconcile these contradictions: formality versus spontaneity; total commitment to the letter of the law versus unprecedented emotional outbursts of religious devotion? Are such notions not mutually exclusive and irreconcilable?

Purim and the Alcohol of Berkeley and Kant

Some appropriately irreverent thoughts to...well, no, not to ponder on the occasion of Purim.

Biblical Studies: Relevance, Eternity and Unawareness

Understanding Chumash (the Five Books of Moses) is far more than knowing how to give expression to the deeper meaning of the biblical text. After all, it is impossible to treat the Chumash as any other classical work since, according to Jewish Tradition, the People of Israel are not the author of this text; rather, it is the author of the people.

To Be Secular Would Be Hell, Everything Would Be Forbidden

A few years ago I saw a cat hit by a car. It rolled over several times but escaped unhurt. Its face showed no sign of shock (1), but its body language indicated clear signs of panic and disorientation.

To Be Religious Is To Be a Halachic Poet

Halacha is the practical expression of discovering the infinite within the finite. To grasp the world of religiosity, or the real essence of halacha, it is not enough to know all of the Written and Oral Torah. One must also see how the birds fly and the flowers blossom; one must sit by the bed of the dying, watch the stars, and have unexpected meetings. Because all of these are a living commentary on the Text.

One Should Listen to Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven, Before Ruling on a Halachic Problem

The posek has to understand that he may be called upon to give guidance to an often extremely secular and troubled world that is in great need of hearing the words of a Jewish sage. His decisions must reflect the imperative that we Jews are to be a light unto the nations—a light that must shine everywhere. It is no longer possible to focus on the often narrow world of Orthodoxy and look down on or ignore the secular and gentile world.

Judaism: The Art of Rebellion

When we teach our children to eat kosher, we should tell them that this is an act of disobedience against consumerism that encourages human beings to eat anything as long as it tastes good. When we go to synagogue, it is a protest against man’s arrogance in thinking that he can do it all by himself. When couples observe the laws of family purity, it is a rebellion against the obsession with sex. By celebrating Shabbat, we challenge our contemporary world that believes our happiness depends on how much we produce.

Circumcision, Jesus, Elisha ben Avuyah and Spinoza – A Warning to Our Rabbis

A harsh approach to those who are on the verge of leaving the fold has caused much damage. Sadly, this phenomenon seems to repeat itself in every generation. Whenever people quarrel over matters related to ideology and faith, and a person discovers that his more lenient opinion is in the minority, all too often—although his original view differed only slightly from the majority—the total rejection he experiences pushes him over the brink. Gradually, his views become more and more irrational and he becomes disgusted with his opponents, their Torah and their practices, forsaking them completely .

What is Death?

Do our souls cease to exist after they leave our bodies? Does the spirit turn to ashes once it is on its own? How is it possible that souls speak immortal words, think eternal thoughts, create art and music, and then just evaporate into nothingness and vanish? A soul doesn’t grow out of nothing. It’s rooted in another world. Does it then perish and just disappear when it leaves this world?

God, Where are You? Murder in Har Nof, Yerushalayim

I apologize in advance, but it has again become difficult to believe that You are actually living among us. Only three weeks ago, some of your most faithful devotees were standing, in the middle of their prayers, when they were suddenly attacked and brutally murdered in a synagogue in Har Nof, Yerushalayim. You didn’t stop the butchers but allowed them to savagely snuff out the lives of these husbands and fathers while You stood by without lifting a finger. They were speaking to You, praising Your greatness, and while conversing with You, they were struck down with guns, knives and hatchets. Don’t You think this is too much for us to bear?

Who Is Really a Jew?

What makes one a Jew? Being born to a Jewish mother? Converting to Judaism? Not really. It is living by the spiritual order of Judaism that makes one a Jew; living through the Jews of the past and with the Jews of the present and future. We are Jews when we choose to be so; when we have discovered Jewishness on our own, through our search for the sacred; when we fight the never-ending spiritual struggle to find God, realize that the world needs a moral conscience, and carry that exalted burden so as to save the world and provide it with a mission.

The Great Challenge for Judaism: Thinking Big

Jewish education today is, for the most part, producing a generation of religious Jews who know more and more about Jewish observance but think less and less about what it means. This is even truer of their teachers. Many of them are great Talmudic scholars, but these very scholars don’t realize that they have drowned in their vast knowledge. The more they know, the less they understand. Just as a young child may think it is an act of kindness to lift a fish out of an aquarium and “save” it, so these rabbis may be choking their students while thinking they are providing them with spiritual oxygen. Doing so, they rewrite Judaism in ways that are totally foreign to the very ideas that it truly stands for. They are embalming Judaism while claiming it is alive because it continues to maintain its external shape.

The Joy of a Bar Mitzvah

Religious Jews carry a secret that few people have understood. For them, freedom can be earned only by great discipline. One needs to conquer it every moment of one’s life and work hard to maintain it. Freedom is the will to be responsible. It is a mental state, not just a physical condition. Its primary requirement is to live for something that is worth dying for. A life without a mission is not worth being born into. It is only through dignity that one becomes free, and in the words of Avraham Joshua Heschel, “the dignity of man stands in proportion to his obligations.”

Halacha, Paradoxes and Constraints

Halacha makes rules where rules need to exist lest chaos ensue. But it is these very rules that create unsolvable problems that are inherent to our existence. In trying to ask for both religious authenticity and conformity, Halacha nearly collapses in its attempt to satisfy both, and consequently builds bridges that dangle loosely and are then declared by Halacha to be castles of security. Halacha is constrained by man’s need to look after his own spiritual wants: the playfulness and innocence of the child in all of us; our real I; and the fact that we have consumed the apple and must now behave because we could not deal with the tree. It is this balancing act that becomes beautiful once the Divine Will declares it holy and teaches us that life’s absurdity has meaning.

Avraham and the Impossible God: The Challenge of Akeidat Yitzchak

To be religious means to know how to navigate unresolvable conflicts, to be bold enough to negotiate, and to stand upright even when failing. It is in the unresolved that real life is lived. Only that can lead man to true religiosity. In Parashat Vayera, Avraham learns that a God Whom one fully understands is only half a God. Because a life without dichotomies is a life not lived. The overwhelming paradoxes are what portray life in its full force and reality.

Noah: The Danger of Misguided Frumkeit, Spinoza‘s Accurate Critique and Terrible Blunder

For Jews, it is Avraham, rather than Noah, who represents genuine religiosity. Judaism is a covenant between man and God, in which man is co-creator. God orders him to take action beyond His commandments. He is asked to build the world with the ingredients that God supplied at the time of creation. And when God destroys the world, it is man’s task to restore it. He is obligated to storm out of the comforting "ghetto" of the ark, protest and start rebuilding.

Simchat Torah: The Unyielding Sefer Torah

A Sefer Torah presents us with a stunning paradox: It is a text that has had greater influence in the world than any other we know of. It has changed the universe as nothing else has; it encourages man to move, to discover and to develop. But it is still written in the traditional way--on parchment, by the hand of man, holding a quill pen.

Rosh HaShanah: Profundity and the Challenge of the Deed

Every ordinary act should be turned into a kind of mitzvah, a spiritual challenge, making it a dignified encounter with God. On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur we are reminded that our deeds must redeem God’s presence and rescue Him from oblivion. In doing the finite we must be able to perceive the infinite.

My Brother and the Kosher Wine Bottle – Defensive Halacha and Prophetic Halacha

Laws such as issur maga nochri become an obstacle to the universal mission of the Jewish people when they are applied to those to whom they are not applicable.

The Divine Word Is Deadly, Only A Melody Can Rescue it.

The Divine Word is deadly and causes paralysis. The Word, wrought by fire in the upper world, is unmanageable and wreaks havoc once it descends. Its demands are not of this world; they belong to the angels. The Word therefore comes to naught once it enters the human sphere, since there is no one to receive it. All have died before the Word is able to pronounce its second word. How then can it delight the living soul?

The Survival of Israel and the Art of Recognizing Miracles

When one carefully studies Jewish history from the early biblical days to our own times, one can only conclude that, in spite of the many pogroms, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, Jews were constantly accompanied by highly unusual events, large and small. The fact that Jews survived these atrocities, outlived all their enemies throughout the millennia, and made it back to the Land of Israel is unprecedented and a vexing conundrum for historians and sociologists. It is indeed miraculous.

Our Struggle with God’s Goodness, part 1and 2

It is time to stop justifying God. Morally, His ways are sometimes inexcusable. Allowing a Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed in the cruelest ways imaginable, causing unbearable pain to innocent children, is morally intolerable.

Will Our Boys Fight Again?

Throughout the centuries, historians, philosophers and anthropologists have struggled with the concept called Israel more than with nearly any other idea.

The Fight for a 4,000-Year Marriage

Marriage and the merit of living in the Land of Israel have much in common. After Sarah’s death, Avraham buys a portion in the Land of Israel, including the Cave of Machpelah, for the purpose of burying her there.

Prayer on Behalf of the Jewish Soldier (English-Hebrew)

Lord of the Universe We, the people of Israel who are dwelling in the Diaspora come to you in humility and pray for Your help

On The Israeli-Arab Conflict: A Biblical Perspective

Impartial observers of the Middle East will realize that these are extraordinary times. Tens of thousands of Jews from many different countries are returning to their national and historic homeland after thousands of years.

Let Us All Sit Shiva and Mourn the Death of a Child

Just as millions of Israeli Jews prayed for the safety of our three sons and showed unprecedented unity and moral character as no nation has ever shown, let us now sit shivah and mourn the terrible atrocity that has been committed by a few of our sons.

An Open Letter to God: The Murder of Our Sons

Lord of the Universe! I ask for forgiveness, but I have no option but to speak to You with words of protest. I must tell You that it has again become very difficult to live in Your presence. In the last few weeks, we, the people of Israel, have all become one family whose sons were brutally murdered almost three weeks ago.

God Is Too Great to Be Justified – Part 1

It is time to stop justifying God. Morally, His ways are sometimes inexcusable. Allowing a Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed in the cruelest ways imaginable, causing unbearable pain to innocent children, is morally intolerable.

The Frustrating but Beautiful World of Halacha

One of man’s strongest longings today is for authenticity. We want to be ourselves, or to become ourselves. We admire children’s spontaneity, because they do not yet know how they “ought to be.” They are still impulsive and natural.

The Paradox of Who Is a Jew

What makes one a Jew? Being born to a Jewish mother? Converting to Judaism? Not really. It is living by the spiritual order of Judaism that makes one a Jew; living through the Jews of the past and with the Jews of the present and future.

Shavuot – Bible Criticism and the Problem of Revelation

One of the most challenging aspects of religious life is how to relate to the concept of revelation. The uncompromising claim by Judaism that the Torah is not a book written by man, but is the result of the most famous disclosure of God’s will to man,

Jews, Sisyphus and Sports – ( With tongue in cheek!)

The need to engage in sports is self-understood. Exercising and keeping our bodies in good condition is considered a mitzva of the highest priority.

Soccer Talk: The World Cup Some Rabbinic Advice from a Dutch Expert

As the Brazil World Cup draws near, I suffer sleepless nights and struggle with serious depression. In the name of Zeus, why is it that time after time we Jews find ourselves not at the center of these games? No doubt this is on the minds of all my readers.

Sefirat HaOmer: What Really Counts

Nothing is more dangerous for man than to remain spiritually stale. It is for this reason than one is required to count the 49 days of the Omer. To prepare ourselves for the upcoming celebration of Shavuot and the giving of the Torah, we are asked to climb a ladder of 49 spiritual steps in which each day will add another dimension to our souls.

The Danger of Universal Love

In a world that is filled with much animosity, the concept of universal love has become a famous and much discussed topic. We are taught that only when all people begin loving each other equally will our multitude of problems be solved and universal peace prevail.

Yom HaShoa – Jewish Life or Israeli Life

In one of its most dramatic texts, the Talmud (1) discusses an episode that was perhaps the most decisive moment in Jewish history prior to the Holocaust. It took place in the first century C.E. just as the Second Temple was to be destroyed by the Romans, who were occupying the land.

Looking Through the Clouds: The Red Sea and the State of Israel

The establishment of the State of Israel was no doubt an epoch-making event. It is the completely extraordinary nature of this event that stands out – the transformation of the Jewish people’s earthliness into a radically different situation. While miracles no doubt occurred to enable it to happen, the most important religious dimension is, again, the enduring astonishment at this event, especially after the Holocaust. Only when the establishment of the State of Israel is seen in the light of the miracle at the Red Sea will its fascination continue.

Spinoza’s Sub Specie Aeternitatis, Yeshiva Students and the Army

Whenever I think of the huge demonstration of Chareidi yeshiva students at the beginning of this month, I think of Gateshead Yeshiva in England where I spent many years studying Talmud.

Halacha and Absurdity – Part 3

In the first two parts of this essay, we have seen that no objectivity is possible in Halacha. This enables us to understand not only why there are many opposing opinions in the Talmud, such as those of Beit Hillel and Beit Shamai, but also that the weltanschauung (world view) and ideologies of the halachic authorities play an enormous role in the way they decide halachic issues.

Purim: The Call for Eternity

In a remarkable Midrash on Mishlei, we read the following: “All of the festivals will be abolished in the future [the messianic age], but Purim will never be abolished” (1).

Halacha and Absurdity – Part 2

Once the human being has recognized that ultimately there is no way to know why God created the world and mankind, he can make his way back to reason and meaning. Once he leaves this “divine absurdity” behind as an unsolvable problem, his intelligence is able to guide him through the labyrinth of human existence.

Halacha and Absurdity – Part 1

Much has been written about the meaning and purpose of Halacha, based on philosophy, metaphysics and psychology. Scholars have suggested that Halacha is the art of living in the presence of God.

Anti-Semitism at Its Best – Two Essays

Centuries after Shakespeare said “Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark,” we have hard proof of a big stink in Denmark and nearby Scandinavian countries.

The Inscrutable God

Few prayers are more perplexing than the one called “Ein Keloh-einu.” This famous song is chanted at the end of the morning prayers. But it makes little sense. In fact, it seems more than just odd. We first sing “Ein Keloh-einu” (There is nobody like our God), and then we ask “Mi-Keloh-einu” (Who is like […]

The Assault on Circumcision

To be truly alive is only possible when one lives for some supreme goal. The ultimate question regarding our lives is whether there is anything worth dying for. If the answer is no, then we must ask ourselves whether there is anything to live for. For most thinking people there is more to life than our physical survival or having a great time. It is about the exaltation of existence and the ability to hear a perpetual murmur emitted by the waves beyond the shore of worldliness, which gives us the feeling that life is of utmost significance.

Retirement: Time to Start Living

As I watch some of my friends entering retirement, I realize how dangerous it is to "take it easy" and fall into the pit of idleness, thinking that one is at the peak of one's life while one may very well be at its lowest point. Retirement can be a real killer, and surviving its hazards is an art. For most people, old age and retirement often arrive with a jolt. We are not ready. There are no official classes in our youth to prepare us for this stage of our lives. As a result, many stop dreaming and are devoid of any ambition. Some even start apologizing that they are still alive.

Bar Mitzvah as a Vote of Confidence

Few matters are as misunderstood as Judaism’s “obsession with the law.” In the life of a religious Jew, not a moment goes by that he is not reminded of his obligations as stated in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).

Yitro and Franz Rosenzweig – Jews by Choice

Yitro forces each one of us to ask ourselves whether we would have opted for Judaism had we not been born Jewish. And if yes, would this not mean that we would have had to start all over again, discovering it on our own so as to comprehend what it is really all about? If Yitro traveled his road to Judaism step by step in order to fully grasp its beauty and truth, we may have to re-engage ourselves with every mitzvah as if we had never done it before, as real beginners.

Judaism: Thinking Big

It is time to start thinking big about Judaism. Great opportunities are awaiting us and too much is at stake to let them pass by. For too long, Judaism has been jailed in compartmentalized and awkward boxes. It is time to liberate it.

Kaddish: The Ultimate Way to Be a Child Again

I still remember it as if it were yesterday. Six years ago. The year of mourning for my dear mother z"l had just ended. It was a most unusual experience, which I did not anticipate.

Heresy Is a Necessity – A Plea to Bring Spinoza, Locke and Sartre into the Beit Midrash

Leadership is one of the most difficult qualities for man to achieve. It requires a rare combination of wisdom, courage, knowledge and experience. Very few people possess all these qualities, and even fewer know the art of combining them in a balanced way.

The Abuse of Halacha

Judaism is in trouble. More and more of the unacceptable is being done and said in its name. It's causing not only infinite damage to Judaism’s great message but also a terrible desecration of God’s name.

Secular Prohibition and Religious Endorsement

A few years ago I saw a cat hit by a car. It rolled over several times but escaped unhurt. Its face showed no sign of shock (1), but its body language indicated clear signs of panic and disorientation.

The Joy of Religious Doubt – The Road to Faith is Paved with Uncertainty

We are currently living in a transitional phase of monumental proportions and far-reaching consequences. Our religious beliefs are being challenged as never before. We are forced to our knees due to extreme shifts and radical changes in scientific discoveries;

JDOV VIDEO: Johann Sebastian Bach, Judaism and the Art of Being a Rebel

The following words were spoken at Limmud, Johannesburg, South Africa on August 11.2013 for the JDOV, video program. This is a slightly edited transcription of my lecture.

God and the Philippine Typhoon

Do good and evil events in this world really always depend on human behavior? Was there no other reason for God to create the universe than to test human beings and reward or punish accordingly? Is man really the measure of all things?

Debating Orthodox and Reform Beliefs – Wanted: Rabbinical Courage

What Orthodox leaders must remember is that we owe much of our knowledge not to those who agreed with us, but to those who differed and therefore challenged us to sharpen our minds. “Accept the truth from whoever says it” was Maimonides’ sage advice in his introduction to his famous treatise Shemonah Perakim.

Bravo, Chief Rabbi Mirvis! Courage, Dayan Ehrentreu!

Courage is the word that comes to mind when we think of Britain’s new Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis’ decision to come to Limmud, the largest Jewish conference in the world, which will take place in England at the end of the year. It is a sad commentary on the state of contemporary Orthodox leadership when a chief rabbi is called courageous because he accepts the invitation to teach Torah at such a remarkable Jewish event. What could be more obvious? But the truth is that courage has indeed become a rare commodity in large segments of Orthodoxy.

The Ban on Circumcision, and the Council of Europe

Request to our readers The following essay (with some slight changes) was published in The Jerusalem Post Friday Magazine on September 14th, 2012, as well as in the Shabbat Magazine of the Israeli, Hebrew newspaper Makor Rishon on Friday, November 9th, 2012. It is important that this essay gets as much exposure as possible. Please send it on to your friends, to newspapers and to journals! *********** As the discussion around circumcision is gaining momentum and more and more people, including doctors and philosophers in Europe, publish their opinions, it is time to bring some balance to the debate.

Akedath Yitzchak and Avraham’s mistaken presumption

The most tragic figure in the Bible is God, said the famous Talmudic scholar Saul Lieberman. Indeed. No one has been more misunderstood than God. But let’s be honest; it’s His own fault. After all,

The Sweetening of the Divine Word

Rabbi Azariah and Rabbi Acha said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: When, at Mount Sinai, the Israelites heard the word “Anochi” (“I” — the first word of “The Ten Words”), their souls left them, as it says [Devarim 5:22]: “If we hear the voice of God any more, we will die.”

Yom Kippur – To Dream Harder

In former times, no hours were more extraordinary in our forefathers’ lives than those just before the onset of the awesome day, Yom Kippur.

The Joy of Saying: I am Sorry

One of the most remarkable features of the Portuguese Spanish Selichot (1), besides the text, is the choice of melodies. The tunes are not like those of the Edot HaMizrach, the Eastern Sefardi communities.

Rosh Hashana and the Missing King

Once upon a time, in a large, gloomy palace high on a mountain, where the night wind howled outside its massive walls, there lived a king—a real one. He had a beard as long as a silver waterfall and a voice that boomed like thunder. A king needs no more.

Rosh Hashanah, Nicolaes Maes and the Uproar in Our Souls

The Holy One blessed be He has many ways to create an uproar in our souls. He can show us a moment in the life of a person who seems to live a simple life, with such tranquility and profundity that we are immediately transformed.

Halacha, Legal Hairsplitting and The Great Compliment

Few matters are as misunderstood as Judaism’s “obsession” with Halacha. Not a moment goes by in the life of a religious Jew that he is not reminded of his many obligations, both religious and moral, as codified in the various works of Jewish Law.

God Does Not Exist – The New Thirteen Principles of Faith – Principle Two

The truly great need no synthesis. They absorb whatever experience offers them. Their intensely creative personalities act like a fiery furnace, melting away contradictions.

The Strenuous Balancing Act of Halacha

One of man’s strongest longings today is for authenticity. We want to be ourselves, or to become ourselves. We admire children’s spontaneity, because they do not yet know how they “ought to” be. They are still impulsive and natural.

The Rebellion of Chief Rabbi Sacks

Let it be said. Jonathan Sacks has been a rebellious chief rabbi. Now that he is stepping down, we had better keep an eye on him and hope he will become even more of an insurgent.

Judaism: Thinking Big (1)

It is time to start thinking big about Judaism. Great opportunities are awaiting us and too much is at stake to let them pass by. For too long, Judaism has been jailed in compartmentalized and awkward boxes. It is time to liberate it.

The Challenge and Opportunities at Limmud – Reflections from Australia

Judaism is the most astonishing and daring religion the world has been blessed with. It defies definition, standing head and shoulders above anything else I know. It is not just a faith, a sentiment, or a ritual;

Imagination, Torah and Toys

One of the most unique talents that human beings are blessed with is the faculty of imagination. Unlike any other creature, the human has nearly unlimited potential for constructive fantasy.

Protesting the Tragic God of Sublimity

The most tragic figure in the Bible is God, said the famous Talmudic scholar Saul Lieberman. Indeed. No one has been more misunderstood than God. But let’s be honest; it’s His own fault.

Autobiography – Lonely But Not Alone

A Spiritual Short Autobiography by a Jew Who Should Never Have Been

Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Torah study has become nearly impossible, and the problem lies not with the Torah but with man. To read the text requires courage. Not courage to open the Book and start reading, but courage to confront oneself.

God Is Relocating

Lately, a strange feeling has gotten hold of me. I am not yet able to fully articulate it, but something tells me that God is relocating to a different residence. He has hired a moving company and they are at this time loading all His furniture and possessions into a van

Yom Ha’atzmaut – The Mystery of Israel

Throughout the centuries, historians, philosophers and anthropologists have struggled with the concept called “Israel” almost more than with any other topic. While attempting to place Israel within the confines of conventional history, they experienced constant academic and philosophical frustration.

The Holocaust, Rembrandt and the Quest for Authenticity

As we approach Yom Hashoa, I think of Rembrandt’s superb Large Self-Portrait, which is exhibited at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It cast a spell on me when I first saw it.

The Rise and Fall of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI has just left, and soon our Israeli chief rabbis will follow suit. The difference is that Benedict left on his own accord, much to the dismay of many in the Church, while our chief rabbis, whose terms of office have ended,

The New Thirteen Principles of Faith

Faith can only be found in the light of one’s soul, never in dogma. Dogmas reach only the mind but not the human heart. Trying to translate faith into dogma is a misguided technical skill that leaves the human heart empty of that which is crucial to a religious experience.

Purim and the Intricate Web

From a subjective point of view, it seems that the existence and behavior of a single human being is of little importance. Barring those leaders, thinkers and scientists

Faith, Death and Frontal Encounter

Faith is deeper than knowledge. While scientific data is absorbed only in the brain, faith permeates all parts of the human personality.

To Be a Stranger Is to Be Moral

Once again, residents of the State of Israel are threatened by political unrest, escalating with each passing day, in their neighboring countries of the Middle East. The Arab Spring is spreading across the region like water bursting through a dam.

Yitro and Franz Rosenzweig – Jews by Choice

As we are daily confronted by a serious increase in the number of Jews who have not only left the fold but are actively involved in anti-Jewish sentiments in and outside of Israel, it would perhaps be meaningful to study an episode in the life of a biblical non-Jew who decided to join the Jewish people at all costs.

The Great Bar Mitzvah of Compliments

Few matters are as misunderstood as Judaism’s “obsession with the law.” In the life of a religious Jew, not a moment goes by that he is not reminded of his obligations as stated in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).

Denial and Self-Loathing

One of the most common psychological defense mechanisms used by human beings is denial. We all repress unpleasant experiences and do not want to be confronted with reality when it is too uncomfortable.

To Be Religious Means to Be Rebellious

Leadership is one of the most difficult tasks for man to undertake. It requires a rare combination of wisdom, courage, knowledge and experience.

The Trouble with Jesus

It is extremely difficult to know unequivocally whether the stories and observations about Jesus in the Talmud actually refer to the Jesus in the New Testament. Several dates do not correspond, and many other problems are evident.

Christmas, Jesus and the Rejection of a Jewish Child

This week, our gentile brothers and sisters celebrated the birth of one little Jewish child, one who turned the world on its head as no child has ever done.

Grandparents, Grandchildren and the Fraternity of the Committed (TTP-324)

The Mishna in Eduyoth (2:9) makes the following unusual observation in the name of Rabbi Akiva: “A father endows his son with handsome looks, strength, wealth, wisdom, longevity, and mispar hadoroth lefanav, the number of generations before him.

Introducing the Unknowable: God

“The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.” (1)

Rockets and Survival, Israel and Miracles

As Israel was once again bombarded with short-range mortar shells, Grad artillery rockets and, Hamas’s latest addition, Iranian long-range Fajr-5 missiles, forcing nearly a million people to hide in shelters for over a week, it is understandable that many wonder whether this will ever end.

Prayer on Behalf of the Jewish Soldier (English-Hebrew)

Lord of the Universe We, the people of Israel who are dwelling in the Diaspora, come to you in humility and pray for Your help. Once more, our soldiers are asked to defend our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land against our enemies.

God and Sandy

As the USA is trying to get back on its feet after the devastating “Superstorm Sandy,” which left over 120 people dead, destroyed the homes and possessions of tens of thousands, and left millions without electricity, ruining the lives of countless people, many good souls wonder what is the higher meaning behind all this.

To Be an Example – The Tragedy and the Challenge

There is a high price to pay for living as a Jew. One must be holy so as to be acceptable. One is commanded to surpass civilization so as to be adequate. Our existence is neither desired nor easily accepted. God has positioned us in history in a most curious way.

The Mortal Danger of Retirement

As I watch some of my friends entering retirement, I realize how dangerous it is to “take it easy” and fall into the pit of idleness, thinking that one is at the peak of one’s life while one may very well be at its lowest point.

The Inadequacy of Jewish Dogma – part 3

The Secular Renaissance of Judaism and the Inadequacy of Jewish Dogma

Mind Control – Rabbinical Tyranny and Freedom of Thought Part 2

It is a well-known fact that after the death of Darwin, his evolution theory became more and more popular and many young Jews were attracted by his ideas and left the fold.

Rabbinical Tyranny and Freedom of Thought – A Protest

The primary concern of Judaism is the art of living. To accomplish this, it is committed to a strong sense of tradition and a determination to realize certain optimal goals. It is this that has made Judaism unique, standing out among the community of religions.

Simchat Torah – Technology and the Outdated Torah Scroll

We will soon be celebrating Simchat Torah, and Jews throughout the world will dance with Sifrei Torah in their synagogues, community centers, university campuses and even in the streets. This is remarkable for many reasons.

The Trouble with Kal Nidrei – We Are All Marranos

Kal Nidrei (1) is by far the most celebrated prayer in all Jewish Communities around the world and the most attended throughout the Jewish year. Tens of thousands of Jews who would otherwise never participate in a synagogue service will make sure

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, The Deed, the Choice and the Challenge

“On Rosh Hashana all those who came to the world pass in front of Him like a flock of sheep.”

Rosh Hashana – The Need for Ideological Repentance

As we approach Rosh Hashana and ask ourselves what we should do to become better Jews – not just as individuals but also as a community – we must realize that we need to change our attitudes and not just our deeds.

Wanted: Rabbinical Courage

This statement by Martin Luther King came to mind as I was reading One People, Two Worlds (2), a candid and provocative dialogue between two rabbis on the fundamental differences between Orthodox and Reform Judaism.

The bigotry of the anti-circumcision zealots – by Frank Furedi

The international campaign demonizing the religious practice of circumcising young boys is fuelled by a new form of misanthropic bigotry. It represents a synthesis of twenty-first-century cultural correctness and old-fashioned prejudice.

The Talmud and the Olympics Who won?

Last week something remarkable happened in the Jewish religious world, unequaled in the non-Jewish one. While millions flew to the London Olympics

In Search of a New Posek HaDor

Nothing is more difficult than being a “Posek HaDor,” the foremost leading halachic arbiter of the Jewish people, in our complicated and troublesome days.

Tisha B’Av – Of Simple Courage and Rabbinical Despair

An extraordinary statement in the Talmud offers us a glimpse into the frame of mind of the Sages immediately following the destruction of the Temple,

The Cutting Edge of Circumcision

As the discussion around circumcision is gaining momentum and more and more people, including doctors and philosophers in Europe, publish their opinions, it is time to bring some balance to the debate.

Animosity, Jesus and Circumcision

As anti-Semitism in Europe is on the rise, and antagonism towards the State of Israel escalates, there is a need for careful assessment of the nature of anti-Semitism.

The Ideal and Idyllic: A View of Halacha as a Musical Sonata

A young scholar completed his learning of the entire Talmud for the third time. Full of enthusiasm, he ran to tell his teacher the good news.

Halacha: The Greatest Chess Game on Earth

There is probably no game as difficult and captivating as chess. Millions of people break their heads over strategies to win this game and spend years learning its ins and outs.

Halacha: The Microscopic Search for God

There is little doubt that Halacha greatly complicates life for the religious Jew. There is no other religion that requires so much dedication and includes so much emphasis on detail.

Shabbath, Carrying and the Buddha

The fact that Judaism constantly surprises us is not a surprise. That the institution of Shabbath is one of the best inventions God ever came up with is well known.

The Expulsion of God in Halacha (1)

When trying to understand Halacha’s failure to inspire many Jews in modern times we need to recognize that not only has it been flattened by over-codification and stagnation,

Halacha and Absurdity – Part 3

In the first two parts of this essay, we have seen that no objectivity is possible in Halacha. This enables us to understand not only why there are many opposing opinions in the Talmud,

Shavuoth, The Torah is No longer in Heaven

One of man’s strongest longings today is the need for authenticity. We want to be ourselves, or to become ourselves. We admire children’s spontaneity, because they do not yet know how they “ought to be.”

Yerushalayim, The City of Eternity

I stand at the Kotel, the Wailing Wall

Freud and Belief in God

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the father of psychoanalysis and a figure as eminent as Galileo or Einstein, devoted a great deal of attention to religion.

The Absurdity of Halacha – Part 1

Much has been written about the meaning and purpose of Halacha, based on philosophy, metaphysics and psychology. Scholars have suggested that Halacha is the art of living in the presence of God. Others have posited that it requires the need to live a life dedicated to kedusha (holiness), while many argue that Halacha’s purpose is to achieve a high level of ethical standards.

Pesach, Deus Absconditus and Divine Silence

The continuing absence of distinctive Divine Providence in modern times is often seen as the cause for much of secularism. Since the days of the Renaissance man has become more and more skeptical about the frequency of divine intervention. No longer, it is argued, are there enough indications of God’s interference in the national and […]

The Trouble with Chametz

The Talmud (1) poses the question: Why is it prohibited to eat or to possess chametz (leaven), such as bread, on Pesach? What is there in the nature of leaven that makes it forbidden on Pesach? And what is so special about matza that makes it the most desirable food to eat on this holiday?

Pesach, Modern and Ultra Orthodox Judaism, To Roast or to Boil?

The Torah’s dietary laws of kashrut and those that instruct the Jew to remove all chametz (leaven) on Pesach and to eat matzot do not include instructions on whether food is to be cooked or to be roasted. The only remarkable exception to this is the law concerning the korban Pesach (Passover lamb). What difference does it make if the meat is cooked or roasted?

Why They Still Hate Us – Why I Am Proud to Be a Jew

Every so often we hear again about increasing hatred against the Jews. Attempts to stop anti-Semitism have, for the most part, proved ineffectual, and we still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, many gentiles are our best friends and we should not forget this. Here are some quotes by Gentiles of international repute, who fell in love with the Jews and Judaism. Let us not forget!

Purim and its Irrelevance

A remarkable Midrash on Mishle states that while all the other festivals will be discontinued, the festival of Purim will never be suspended. This assertion seems to fly in the face of Jewish Tradition, which states categorically that the Jewish festivals mentioned in the Torah, such as Pesach, Shavuoth and Succoth, will never cease to be celebrated.

Moshe’s Fatigue and the Need for a Gentile’s Advice

After Moshe left Egypt with a multitude of people, his father-in-law, Yitro, criticized him for the way he was arbitrating disputes among the Israelites, and suggested that Moshe reform the existing legal system. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch poses a very simple question: Could Moshe not have determined this himself?

Why I Love to Teach at Limmud

Printed in the Jewish Chronicle London, United Kingdom, December 2011 Judaism is the most astonishing and daring religion the world has been blessed with. It defies all definitions and stands head and shoulders above anything else I know. It is not just a faith, a sentiment, or a ritual, but above all an immense yet […]

On Dolls and Torah: The Art of Imagination

One of the most unique talents that human beings are blessed with is the faculty of imagination. Unlike any other creature, the human has nearly unlimited potential for constructive fantasy. In fact, our civilization is built on imagination. Without this capacity, no progress could ever be made, whether in science, literature, philosophy, art, music or […]

Gilad Shalit: Justice and Injustice

Thank God, Gilad Shalit is finally home. He has transformed Israel into a different country: more holy and united, but also more pained. Pained for those who lost their loved ones in many wars and terrorist attacks and whose murderers have now been freed in a deal to return Gilad to his parents. For more […]

Simchat Torah and the Stagnation of the Text

For hundreds of years, Jews have had the custom to complete the yearly Torah reading in the synagogue on the day of Simchat Torah only to immediately begin all over again. Why the hurry? There is nearly no time to contemplate what one read last year!  What is the point of reading something which, for […]

Rosh Hashana: The Introduction of Bold Ideas

This article will be printed Erev Rosh Hashana in the Hebrew weekly, Makor Rishon Rosh Hashana is a day to contemplate the need for great Jewish Ideas. A day to think big. To get out of our compartmentalized boxes. Hayom Harat Olam: Today the world is born. On Rosh Hashana the world should be newly […]

Rosh Hashana Without End

God has many ways to create an uproar in our souls. He can show us a moment in the life of a person who seems to live in complete tranquility, sometimes using the most unusual people to convey an important message. In the famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam there is a portrait by Rembrandt’s most celebrated […]

The Next Mass Demonstration

“I have a Dream”  Wanted: Rabbis with Knives between Their Teeth Things are going well in Israel. Mass demonstrations for social justice, housing, proper hospitalization, and adequate wages for physicians, teachers and the underprivileged are finally underway. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have gone to the streets to convince the government that things need to […]

Who is a Jew? What is a Jew?

Authenticity and Conformity: Free Spirit and Law What makes one a Jew? Being born from a Jewish mother? Conversion? Not really. It is living in the spiritual order of Judaism that makes one a Jew: living through the Jews of the past and with the Jews of the present and future. We are Jews when […]

Real or Artificial: The Dilemma of Halacha

In honor of the birth of our great granddaughter Malka Eva Rachel Tchiprout Granddaughter of Rabbi Michael and Deborah Sarah Cohen Daughter of Yaacov and Tzipporah Tchiprout Detroit-Yerushalayim One of man’s strongest longings today is the need for authenticity. We want to be ourselves, or to become ourselves. We admire children’s spontaneity, because they do […]

On Boredom and Religious Plagiarism: The Blessings of Jewish Self-Discovery

“How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward!” (1) Psychologists tell us that one of man’s greatest enemies today is boredom. Sometimes, when reading a paper or popular journal, watching television or a DVD, using an MP3 or Ipod, or just listening to the old-fashioned radio, we are confronted with the most […]

Jerusalem, The Echo of Eternity

  I stand at the Kotel, the Wailing Wall. Seeing her frozen tears and eternal smile, Her clouds passing with mournful sighs Her pitiful laughter at those who wanted to destroy her But did not succeed. � I read holy books, And hundreds of thousands of names,� Those from Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Spain, Hungary, �America […]

Pesach: To Roast or to Boil. That is the Question

The Torah does not often give instructions related to food. Besides the laws of Kashruth, and those that relate to Pesach, there are no instructions on how to prepare food or how to eat it.

 The only remarkable exception to this is the law concerning the Korban Pesach, the Passover Lamb.

Pesach. To Roast or To Boil

To Roast or to Boil: That is the Question

Secularism, Modern and Ultra Orthodoxy

The Torah's dietary laws of kashrut and those that instruct the Jew to remove all chametz (leaven) on Pesach and to eat matzot do not include instructions on whether food is to be cooked or to be roasted.

Letter of Protest to God – Itamar and Japan (Part 2)

"Perhaps someday someone will explain how, on the level of man, Auschwitz was possible; but on the level of God, it will forever remain the most disturbing of mysteries."

Elie Wiesel:  Legends of our Time

**

During the past three weeks I have received numerous responses to my Letter of Protest to God. In Awe and Humility  (TTP 270 - See www.cardozoschool.org/), many of which included important observations and questions. Some were highly supportive of my ideas, informing me that I had expressed many of the questions that people are troubled by, while others were slightly antagonistic and asked how I dared to challenge God.  The answer I suggested seems to have helped even those.  On the whole, this has been most refreshing since it shows that people, whether they agree or disagree with my approach, are deeply affected by the issues I have raised.

Sacrifices – The Great Jewish Embarrassment?

Does Judaism really need animal sacrifices? Would it not be better off without them? After all, does the sacrificial cult not compromise Judaism?  What does a highly ethical religion have to do with the collecting of blood in vessels and the burning of animal limbs on an altar? No doubt Judaism should really be sacrifice-free. Yet it is not.

So, is the offering of sacrifices Jewish, or not?  The answer is an unequivocal Yes! It is Jewish, yet it does not really belong to Judaism.

The Mathematics of the Tabernacle & Johann Sebastian Bach

Since the Torah is normally very parsimonious with its words, nothing is more surprising in Parashat Pekudei (and Vayakhel) than the great amount of detail and repetition in the divine instructions relating to the building and the architecture of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Not the smallest nuance is excluded, and nothing is left to human imagination. Preciseness stands out, and every pin and string is mentioned.

Parashat Ki Tisa -The Wonder of and Need for Authentic Halacha

…This feeling of wonderment is the source and inexhaustible fountain-head of his desire for knowledge. It drives the child irresistibly on to solve the mystery, and if in his attempt he encounters a causal relationship, he will not tire of repeating the same experiment ten times, a hundred times, in order to taste the thrill of discovery over and over again….The reason why the adult no longer wonders is not because he has solved the riddle of life, but because he has grown accustomed to the laws governing his world picture. But the problem of why these particular laws and no others hold remains for him just as amazing and inexplicable as for the child. He who does not comprehend this situation misconstrues its profound significance, and he who has reached the stage where he no longer wonders about anything, merely demonstrates that he has lost the art of reflective reasoning.

[Max Planck, Scientific Autobiography, NY, 1949, pp 91-93]

In this week's parasha we find a fascinating passage concerning Moshe's descent from Sinai. We are informed that Moshe decided to cover his face with a mask after realizing that his facial skin had become radiant causing people to withdraw and not dare approach him (Shemot 34: 29-35).

Bring a Heretic into the Beth Midrash – Moshe’s leadership and rebellion

Leadership is one of the most difficult qualities for man to achieve. It requires a rare combination of wisdom, courage, knowledge and experience. Very few people possess all these qualities and even fewer know the art of combining them in a balanced way.

Yithro – A Protest Against Racism

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), one of the great Jewish leaders and thinkers of modern times, asks us to take notice of a strange incident in the days of Moshe. After Moshe left Egypt with a multitude of people, his father-in-law, Yithro, criticized him for the way he was administrating the Israelites:

     What are you doing to the people? Why are you sitting by yourself and letting all the people stand around you from morning until evening?

     The people come to me to seek God, replied Moshe to his father-in-law. Whenever they have a problem, they come to me. I judge between man and his neighbor, and I teach God's decrees and laws.

     Moshe's father-in-law said to him: What you are doing is not good. You are going to wear yourself out, along with this nation that is with you. Your responsibility is too great. You cannot do it all alone. (Shemoth 18: 14-18) (1)

Jesus and Spinoza. The Story of a Jewish Tragedy

This time of year millions of eyes are on one Jew: Jesus. While we Jews have no part in this, it is important that we ask ourselves why this man has fascinated the world as few people ever have, yet simultaneously has been totally rejected by the Jews. What can be learned from the tragic story of a man who is worshipped by many as a god but seen by the Jews as nearly an outcast?

The Fire That God Wrought – Thoughts on Theodicy and God’s Responsibility

It has become common practice in the Jewish orthodox religious community to trace any national or personal disaster back to human moral or religious failure. It is divine wrath that befalls us. Any tragedy is seen as an expression of God's anger with the behavior of mankind, especially of Jews.

Word Painting, US Customs and God’s Deserts

There is a technique in writing called word painting. It differs from the way most of us write in that it paints an image in the reader's mind.  It does not merely state a description, such as "the grass was green and the heavens were blue."  Rather, it recognizes that some matters strike us as beautiful not because of aesthetics - when colors match or the symmetry is perfect - but because they make a deep psychological impression on us due to the mood or the value they embody. Word painting uses rich evocative words that accurately portray the images in the writer's mind. Experiences such as these can mollify many ugly moments we human beings have to endure.

Chanukah: The Menorah, Religious Equilibrium and the Jewish Mission

For the Jewish religious community to deny this is to embarrass Judaism. For religious Jewry to live an authentic Jewish life, it will have to teach its children that our true task as Jews is our universal mission to be an example of the balance between the spiritual and the physical. This is the message of the middle light on the biblical menorah towards which all the other lights are to point.

Spinoza and Noah’s Ark

In his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Benedictus Spinoza (17^th century), the famous Jewish ‘philosopher apostate', launches one of his most outspoken attacks on Judaism. Not mincing words, he accuses it of demanding obsessive and outrageous obedience: "The sphere of reason is…. truth and wisdom; the sphere of theology is piety and obedience" (XV). "Philosophy has no end in view save truth: faith… looks for nothing but obedience and piety" (X1V). "Scripture … does not condemn ignorance but obstinacy" (X1V).

Determinism and Free Will

God's False Accusations and Man's Responsibility

"We must believe in free will. We have no choice." This observation made by Isaac Bashevis Singer introduces one of the greatest enigmas in Jewish and general philosophy - free will versus determinism. Many have attempted to solve this paradox, but not one philosopher has been able to come up with a completely satisfactory solution.

Contemplations About a Cat

Secularism's Prohibitions; Religion's Permissions

Recently I saw a cat hit by a car. It rolled over several times but escaped unhurt.  Its face showed no sign of shock (1), but its body language indicated clear signs of panic and disorientation. It ran to the side of the road, turned over several times more as if in total confusion, and then calmed down. I waited a few seconds wondering what I could do to help, but a moment later the cat went on its way and then disappeared.

Yom Kippur and Arthur Schopenhauer

All religions and philosophies are, without a doubt, confronted with the question of how to relate to "existence." Should one oppose "existence" and ideally opt for "non-existence," or should one view "being" as good and "non-being" as the opposite?< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Poem to God

September 1, 2010

22 Elul 5770

The Holy Souls

Yitzchak and Talya Ames

Kochava Even-Chaim

 Avishai Shindler

May their memory be a blessing

How Does One Express a Tear on Paper?

You will win O Lord, if I make claim against You, yet I shall present charges….

Yirmiyahu the prophet

(Yirmiyahu, 12:1)

Were it not for the Lord…

they would have swallowed us alive

in their burning rage against us.

King David

 (Tehilim 124:2-3)

Upon arising from my slumber this morning

I heard of the great slaughter

in Your land.

Four children of Abraham and Sara appeared before Your throne

within a second

without a chance to prepare themselves for the journey. 

Innocent Jews gunned down by those who threw off Your image.

Seven children, forever deprived of their parents' love.

In emptiness will they stand at their chuppah

Judaism’s Palette of Colors – Thank You Rabbi Francis Nataf, Welcome Daniel Sheer

The beauty of Judaism is its unconventional combination of colors. Like Rembrandt's famous palette of colors, and unlike so many other traditions, Judaism perceives hidden layers that link its preternatural sensibility to an unknown reality. It transports all religious meaning, drawn from the creation and the Sinai revelation, to a plane where it then bursts out into a new creation.

Soccer Talk

 Some Rabbinic Advice from a Dutch Expert

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death.

I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

(Bill Shankly)

As the World Cup in South Africa has come to an end, followed by my sleepless nights of struggling with serious depression after my home country (Holland) shamefully lost, I began to wonder why, in the name of Zeus, did the Israelis not win all the games.  No doubt this is on the minds of all my readers.

The Preciousness of My Children – A Terrifying Story

Recently, I experienced the great embarrassment of living in the presence of God, thinking that I knew what it entailed, only to realize that I had no clue. It was a rude awakening, dreadful as can be. I was confronted with a situation that I have always known exists but have never experienced before. In an instant I learned what no book could ever teach me in hundreds of years: that I should sense the ultimate in the ordinary; that I should live in awe when I encounter the trivial.

God is Unjustifiable

It is time to stop justifying God.  Morally speaking (1), His ways are sometimes inexcusable. Allowing a Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed in the cruelest ways imaginable, causing unbearable pain to innocent children, is morally intolerable.  Creating earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and other "natural" disasters which kill people and other creatures is insufferable.  Any attempt to justify these deeds of God is to profane His holy name. 

The Challenge of Freedom

Nothing is more dangerous to the well-being of the human species than the mistaken notion of freedom. Today, freedom is defined as the ability to do whatever one wants. Entire generations have been thrown into a life of meaninglessness, passivity and boredom in the name of this artificial freedom. It wreaks havoc on many fine souls who no longer have a sense of what they are living for. After all, a life with no mission and commitment is not worth living.

Rabbi Mordechai Elon and the Challenge of Teshuva

I will teach transgressors Your ways

that sinners may return to You

[Tehilim 51: 15]

Despite everything, I have great hopes for Rabbi Elon and believe he will deliver. I do not know what really happened, what is true and what is not. Surely something awful seems to have taken place. Nevertheless, though he may have seriously erred, caused people suffering, and damaged the honor of Judaism, and though he deserves to take responsibility and pay for his actions, I believe that it is in his power to teach us an important lesson.

The High Priest, the Pope and I – Ten Questions for Rabbi Cardozo by Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz

However blasphemous this may sound, the Kohein Gadol was to be the original pope. Basically, the papacy is a Jewish function, tasked not with the mission of spreading the gospel, but rather promulgating monotheism, morality and the Torah, as far as it is applicable to the non-Jewish world.

Confronting the Torah

To study Torah is a most difficult undertaking for modern man. It is not the Torah which is the problem but man. To read the text requires courage. Not the courage to open the Book and start reading but the courage to confront oneself.  To learn Torah requires human authenticity, to stand in front of a mirror and ask oneself the devastating question of who one really is, without masks and artificialities.   And that is one of the qualities modern man has lost. Man has convinced himself to be an intellectual, removed from subjectivity and to bow only to scientific investigation. As such he has disconnected himself from his self. Because man is a bundle of emotions, passions and subjectivities, he cannot escape however much he would like to his inner world. Still modern man formulates ideas; he may proclaim the rights of the spirit and even pronounce laws. But they enter only into his books, into his discussions, but not into his life. All these matters float in mid-air over his head, rather than walk with him into the inner chambers of his daily existence. They do not enter into his trivial moments but stand as monuments, impressive but far removed.

Thoughts at a Wedding of a Grandchild

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My dear Yael and Yehoshua, 
 

When a grandfather stands before his grandchild at the time of her Chupah, many thoughts come to mind. These moments are infused with intense emotion and immense meaning.  Above all, one experiences overflowing feelings of gratitude and thankfulness. 

These special moments give rise to feelings of great anticipation and hope for renewal, combined with nostalgic reminisces and fading memories of the past.

Gilad Shalit

According to Israeli media, Gilad Shalit is soon to be released from his long and inhuman captivity in the hands of Hamas. This gang of murderers has managed to terrorize all of us using one young Jewish boy.

I Am Taking Off My Kippah

Don't be shocked. But I need to be honest. I am contemplating taking off my kippah. No, do not worry. I have no intention of becoming irreligious, or even less religious. Far from it.  In fact, I want to become more religious and have come to the conclusion that my kippah prevents me from doing so.

The Courage of Judge Goldstone

Judge Goldstone must be a frustrated man.  If not, he really has a problem. By now it has become abundantly clear that the Goldstone Report is not merely filled with inaccuracies.  It is replete with procedural and substantive injustices and is a terrible disgrace for all those who believe in integrity, the supremacy of law and moral standards. It is the ultimate blunder for a respectable judge of international standing. Tens of articles penned by famous legislators and men of intellectual integrity, together with experts in other fields of jurisprudence and military knowledge, have demonstrated that this report is not worth the paper on which it is written. Judge Goldstone not only deviated from the truth, playing into the hands of Israel's worst enemies, but he willingly contributed to an international climate which gives credibility to the worst forms of terrorism and in which legitimate countries can no longer defend themselves. In fact, this report lays the ground for great human suffering, far beyond the borders of Israel, and is a recipe for a future major war which cannot be won by those who deserve to win.

Thoughts on Forgiveness – The Man Who Made Me Jewish

There is only one time I have ever forgiven an anti-Semite. But it was for a good reason. He had successfully helped me to become Jewish!

The Wilderness of the Cardozo Academy – Graduation lecture – June 2009

 "All Noble Things Are As Difficult As They Are Rare"

Benedictus de Spinoza

Ethics

Dear Friends,

The purpose of the David Cardozo Academy is to be a Midbar, a desert and a desolate place. This may sound imprudent for an academy which is constantly in search of novelty. In what way can an academy be a desolate place where nothing grows? Is this not a paradox, a non-starter, and its undoing?

To President Barack Obama

I am a Jew

standing at the Western Wall.

How long do I stand here?

Nearly 4000 years,

since the days of my grandfather Abraham,

when he nearly sacrificed his son

at Mount Moriah.

I see the Wall, its tears frozen.

Passing clouds with many sighs.

I read millions of Jewish names,

born in Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Poland,

Spain, Hungary, America and South Africa

The Great Inner Struggle of Benedict XVI

Some reflections on the Pope's visit to Israel
And the Future of Christianity

Benedict XVI is confused. He has a hard time with himself. He is sandwiched between the old Catholic teachings in which he was raised and the new Christianity which his great predecessor John Paul II initiated and of which he, Benedict, was partially the theologian without wanting to admit it. This gnaws at his conscience, especially now that he's the pope and is visiting the Jews.

The Great Compliment

Few matters are as misunderstood as Judaism's "obsession with the law". No moment goes by in the life of a religious Jew in which he is not reminded of his obligations as stated in the Shulchan Aruch, the codex of Jewish Law. While later authorities have sometimes disagreed with certain decisions laid out in this codex, and have even ruled differently, still, Halacha stands at the center of Jewish life and is relentless in its demands. Nearly every moment in the Jew's life is codified, sometimes touching on seemingly absurd details such as the way he has to tie his shoe, or how many grams of matza he must eat on the first night of Pesach. (1)  

Prayer on Behalf of the Jewish Soldier In Gaza (Short Version)

Lord of the Universe!

We, the people of Israel who are dwelling in the Diaspora,

come to you in humility.

Once more, Jewish soldiers are asked

to defend our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land

against our enemies.

We ask You to have pity on them,
to help them watch over our people
with clean hands
and a merciful heart.

Prayer on Behalf of the Jewish Soldier in Gaza (Long Version)

Lord of the Universe

We, the people of Israel who are dwelling in the Diaspora,

come to you in humility

and pray for Your help.

Once more, our soldiers are asked

to defend our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land

against our enemies.

We ask You to have pity on them,
to help them watch over our people
with clean hands
and a merciful heart.

Prayer of the Jewish Soldier Before Going into Battle

Lord of the Universe,

We, the soldiers of the People of Israel,

come to You in humility and pray for Your help.

Once more, we are asked to defend our people

and the Holy Land against our enemies.

We ask You to have pity on us, to help us watch over our People
with clean hands and a merciful heart.

Our Greatest Challenge “Kiddush Hashem”

The Gravest Sin of a Jew is to Forget Whom He Represents (1)

Written in Pain and in a Hurry

There is a high price to be paid for living as a Jew. He has to be holy so as to be normal. He is commanded to surpass civilization so as to be average. Our survival is neither desired nor easily accepted by many of those who surround us. God has positioned us in history in a most curious way. Either it is utterly inconvenient to be a Jew, or it is the most exalted merit man can ever attain. There are no short cuts and there is no middle road.  Our choice is our undoing or our making. We are the most challenged people on earth. We are either superfluous or indispensable. It is either tragic or unsurpassably joyous to be a Jew.  There is no neutrality.            

On Hypocrisy and Being Kosher

Kosher animals, as is well known, can be identified by two simanim, physical signs. They must chew their cud, and their hooves must be wholly cloven (1). In order to be kosher, the animal must possess both simanim. The Torah goes out of its way to emphasize the fact that an animal in which only one sign is present cannot be considered kosher in any way.