Min haMuvhar

LeSHA: Lemida Sh’Goreret Ahava

The Jewish Press newspaper has a bi-weekly feature in which questions are asked to a panel of rabbis. Rabbi Marc Angel is one of the respondents and here are his replies to recent questions dealing with parent/child relationships, family responsibilities, the "agundah" issue, and use of social media.

 Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was one of humanity’s greatest geniuses, a man whose mind plumbed the depths of universe. But his greatness transcended his being gifted with an extraordinary IQ: he had imagination; he wondered about things; he let his mind drift in new and unexpected pathways.

The Mitzvah of Hakhel--gathering of all Israelites every seven years--is a powerful re-enactment of the Revelation at Mt. Sinai when all the Israelites gathered to receive the Torah.

On August 29-30, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah will be holding its 19th annual Study Days in Bible and Jewish Thought over Zoom. Our National Scholar, Rabbi Hayyim Angel, will present a class on Sunday evening August 29, from 8:00-9:00pm. The event is co-sponsored by The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. 

For registration and the full schedule, please see this link:

https://www.jewishideas.org/sites/jewishideas.org/files/YEMEI%20IYUN%202021.pdf

It is through the sense of Jewish identity, forged by an observant lifestyle, that one is more likely to feel that distinct sense of peoplehood and that non-severable bond to the destiny of the Jewish people and to the state of Israel. It is only then that one can find the courage to speak the words that must be spoken, the truth about our people's proud history and Israel's proud struggle to survive.

With the growing success and utilization of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, it is not at all surprising that halakhic discussions abound concerning their appropriateness, how and when they should be carried out and under what circumstances couples should avail themselves of ART.

This essay examines the halakhic import of praying in the synagogue. As many synagogues are now able to return to the normal activity and hustle and bustle of our synagogue life, it is important to re-confirm the significance of synagogues for our religious lives.

If there is to be peace in the Middle East, the focus should not be on “narratives” but on historical fact. Once this recognition of Israel’s historical right is acknowledged, a real peace process can begin that will bring untold benefits to all parties.

Dr. Elliot Turiel writes of his experiences as a child in the Island of Rhodes during World War II. When the Jews of Rhodes were deported to Auschwitz in July 1944, the Turiel family was saved by the Turkish Consul in Rhodes, since Elliot's mother held a Turkish passport.