The Jewish Press Newspaper has a feature in which several rabbis are asked to respond to relevant questions. Rabbi Marc D. Angel is one of the respondents, and here are his answers to some of the recent questions,
R. Reines did not see Zionism as devoid of religious value. To the contrary, it was a movement of teshuvah, of return. R. Reines the realist knew that Mizrachi must remain a political arm of the Zionist movement. Nonetheless, he still believed that at its core, Zionism was a spiritual awakening.
When one spouse has grown up with Sephardic traditions and the other with Ashkenazic traditions, whose customs prevail in the marriage and in their family? Must they choose one custom, or may they fashion their own combination of customs for themselves and their children?
President Joe Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which had been passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress. It is a forceful response to the disgraceful attacks on Asian-Americans by bigots who blamed them for the Covid-19 pandemic. Nothing of the sort appears to be contemplated in response to the attacks by Palestinian sympathizers on Jewish-American persons, synagogues, and restaurants during and after the latest Israel-Hamas conflict.
Only when halakha manifests a deep passion for justice and human sensitivity will it secure the wide allegiance of Jews today. Moral integrity is, therefore, an existential imperative for contemporary halakha.
Hasidic children often receive less than adequate general education. Lacking basic skills in math, English, science and social studies, they are handicapped when seeking gainful employment. Yaffed is an organization which works to ensure that Hareidi schools are held responsible for meeting State standards for general education.
It is well known that all mitzvoth fall into two major categories: those between humans are God-bein adam laMakom, and those between humans and their fellows-bein adam leHaveiro. The question we wish to discuss here is which of these two categories is, as it were, more weighty. Formulated differently: If there were to be a clash between two different mitzvoth from these two categories, which one would prevail?
While it may be nice to receive praise in return for praiseworthiness, one seeks to be praiseworthy by feeling God’s presence in one’s life and in one’s work. That feeling of spiritual bliss is the ultimate human fulfillment.
Rabbis Hayyim and Marc Angel recently gave Zoom classes, and each class has been posted on our Institute's website: youtube.com/jewishideasorg Here are brief descriptions of the classes. This enables you to learn from the classes at your own convenience. Enjoy...and Learn!
Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, author of important halakhic volumes on the topic of conversion to Judaism, is a strong proponent of an inclusive approach to accepting converts. He offers a strong case for this approach and a strong critique of those who insist on extreme and stringent views.