The Current State of the Modern Orthodox Community
Conversations, the journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, asked Rabbi Zev Eleff to address four questions about the state of Modern Orthodoxy.
Min haMuvhar
Kohelet Chapters 1-3: A Commentary on the Human Condition
Kohelet 1–3 sets the tone for a book that never settles for easy answers. In the
face of toil, impermanence, and uncertainty, Kohelet urges not despair, but
attentiveness—to fleeting joy, to moral humility, and to the awe of God that arises from
honest limitation.
The Grasshopper Effect and Other Defects in Modern Orthodox Leadership
Notwithstanding our recent history of esteemed leaders and thinkers, the weaknesses in our Orthodox world cannot be ignored if they are to be mended. A variety of factors have resulted in a collapse of any meaningful application of the word "leadership" to Modern Orthodoxy. This collapse is mostly self-induced.
The Battle for the Jewish Mind: Book Review by Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Sina Kahen has written a remarkable volume that not only provides the historical context of “the Maimonidean controversies,” but demonstrates how those controversies persist today. While, happily, there are those within modern Jewry espousing an intellectually vibrant Judaism open to the sciences, humanities and arts—there are others who strive to narrow intellectual pursuits to the four cubits of Torah as they understand it.
The Grand Religious Worldview of Rabbi Benzion Uziel
We post this article on the life and thought of Rabbi Benzion Uziel, one of the great religious leaders of the 20th century. When he passed away on September 4, 1953, he was mourned by hundreds of thousands of Sephardim and Ashkenazim, Jews and Arabs. A remarkable personality, Rabbi Uziel proclaimed that Judaism is not a narrow, confined doctrine limited only to a select few individuals. It must thrive with a grand vision, always looking outward.
Kohelet on Wealth and Wisdom
Kohelet is a philosophical and introspective work that confronts the tension between inherited ideals—wisdom, righteousness, reward—and the painful unpredictability of real life. Among its central themes is the question of whether wealth and wisdom—so extolled by traditional texts like Proverbs—can truly offer a good life.
Reviews of Rabbi M. Angel's Recent Books
‘Angel for Shabbat’ and ‘Loving Truth and Peace’ are published by Da’at Press (based in London) in conjunction with the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Both books are highly recommended.
Maimonides: Pioneer of Positive Psychology
Maimonides’ extensive writings are both important and relevant for the rapidly growing field of knowledge: namely, positive psychology. Why? Many people are seeking to gain a greater sense of spirituality in their lives. This article highlights Maimonides’ teachings related to this important new specialty, what its originators have called “the study of character strengths and virtues.”
Rabbi Hayyim Angel's Podcast on Haftarat Korah
Rabbi Hayyim Angel made a podcast on the Haftarah for Korah with Dr. Yosefa Wruble of Matan in Israel.
Here is the link to the podcast:
Toward an Orthodox Community that is More Responsive to People with Special Needs
Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman have prepared a new book "A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B'nai Mitzvah for Children with Disabilities," Behrman House Publishers. This book includes a remarkable group of essays by educators and parents dealing with B'nai Mitzvah celebrations for children with a range of physical, intellectual, and neurological disabilities.