Articles

Well-paid wise men on Pharaoh’s payroll were unreliable interpreters of critical events. The visionary Joseph, willing to speak a potentially unpopular truth to an all-powerful ruler, prevailed.

Our Institute has an unwavering commitment to the Torah tradition and to the Jewish people. We promote a vision of Orthodox Judaism that is intellectually sound, spiritually compelling, and emotionally satisfying.  Appreciating the amazing diversity within Orthodoxy,  the Institute encourages responsible discussion of issues in Jewish law, philosophy, religious world-view, and communal policy.

The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals has offered classes/shiurim and has published many articles relating to the Sephardic-pan-Sephardic experience. We also have posted Sephardic-themed lectures and classes on the Institute's youtube channel. Here is a selection of articles that we offer as part of our partnership with the Israeli organization--Neemanei Torah VaAvodah--that is devoting this week and this Shabbat to exploring Sephardic themes.

Elias Canetti (1905-1994), a Bulgarian-born Sephardic Jew, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981.I appreciate his keen insights into human motives and behaviors. I admire his close observation of people and places. With prophet-like clarity, he foresaw how humanity could destroy itself…or save itself from the brink.

The Jewish Press newspaper has a bi-weekly feature in which several rabbis are asked to respond to questions. Rabbi Marc Angel is one of the respondents, and here are his answers that appeared in recent columns.

Although Disraeli was a Christian, a member of Parliament, a popular author, a confidant of Queen Victoria…his detractors never stopped seeing him as a Jew, an outsider, an interloper. He had to struggle against unceasing political malice and anti-Jewish malevolence. Instead of denying or de-emphasizing his Jewish roots, Disraeli flaunted his Jewishness.

Rabbi Daniel Bouskila describes customs of Moroccan Jews relating to Succoth. This article originally appeared in the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles.

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.

As we approach the upcoming High Holy Day season, we wish our members and supporters all the best, good health and happiness. This is a good time for us to invest in those institutions and causes that strengthen Jewish life, so that we may build a better and stronger future for our community. Each gift to the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals is a vote for an intellectually vibrant, compassionate, inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

LeSHA: Lemida Sh’Goreret Ahava