The "Image of God": Thoughts for Parashat Bereishith
The quality of spirituality—the tselem Elo-him within us-- is God’s gift to us; how we use or abuse this gift defines who we are as human beings.
Articles
Faith, Science, and Orthodoxy
How can an Orthodox Jew in today's world maintain faith in Torah in the face of the apparent challenges of natural science to that faith? Dr. Menachem Kellner examines Maimonides' approach to the issue and then proposes his own approach, one which relies upon reverting to what he understands as classic Jewish definitions of faith.
Relationship Between Ideals and Commandments in Judaism
It is intrinsic to human nature to strive to emulate God, and everything that creates a distinction from God makes us feel uncomfortable. Therefore, seeing Judaism as merely a set of commandments creates a negative view of the human soul. The commandments are necessary, but only after a person moves freely in the direction of ideals. Self-restraint must stem from freedom, and not the other way around.
Words of Darkness...and Words of Light: Thoughts for Parashat Noah
We should work toward a society that repudiates hateful words and deeds, where the haters themselves will come to see the error of their way. Those whose words are hateful generate darkness, mistrust, societal disintegration.
Those whose words bring light to the world are humanity’s only real hope.
Book Review: Sukkot Companion by the Habura
Book Review
Sukkot: Insights from the Past, Present, and Future (The Habura, 2022)
Rabbi Hayyim Angel's Latest Book Review in Tradition
Our National Scholar, Rabbi Hayyim Angel, reviews two recent books on the interface between traditional and academic Bible study, with consideration of the religious ramifications of various approaches.
The article appears in the current issue of Tradition, the journal of the Rabbinical Council of America.
To Heal America, Take the Liberty Bell on Tour
Of course, the Liberty Bell’s heading back out on tour won’t solve our country’s political, legal, and social challenges. But it can serve to remind Americans of the faith in our country’s unifying symbols and biblically inspired values, which have survived eras more fractious and violent than our own.
Jews, Slavery, and the Meaning of Freedom
Freedom in world history and American history is tied to slavery. Slavery and the exodus from slavery are central to Judaism. Many cultures, do, or have, celebrated emancipation. But only Jews have a major religious holiday that is focused on enslavement and an escape from enslavement.
The Nature of Inquiry: A Common Sense Perspective
Rabbi Shalom Carmy discusses the nature of intellectual inquiry within a religious framework.
Biblical Criticism, Historical Truth
Berman’s book is an important contribution to scholarship and to our religious pursuit of truth in the context of Tanakh study. He challenges readers to examine critically the assumptions they bring to the text. Those who ignore ancient Near Eastern laws and narratives lose a vital tool to evaluate the eternal messages of the Torah.