Several religions include the rationalist, panentheistic approach to existence. Others are incompatible with this view of existence. Judaism has long had a rationalist movement. Among the greatest of the Rabbinical scholars was undoubtedly Maimonides (the Rambam). His rationalist approach to faith is famous and well-studied by adherents of many faiths and by the academy. Likewise … More Jewish Enlightenment
Whenever the issue of religion arises in conversation I rarely shy away. Like politics, it is among the socially taboo topics, nevertheless I love to discuss both. For many Christians, a Jew willing to discuss religion is a rare find. Unfortunately, many take this as an invitation to the missionary impulse and they make an … More I Don’t Believe in…
A number of people have asked me for some arguments they can use when being proselytized to by Christian missionaries. I have resisted writing such work for years because it is not my style to make such arguments. I recently encountered a person who tried to convert me and claimed it would afford me certain … More Defending Your Belief in Judaism
Is the belief in supernatural characters and events restraining Judaism? Is it preventing us from restoring the institutions of the Temple? In this article, I will address the harm caused by believing in fantasies when there is real work to be done to restore the Torah and the national institutions of Judaism. I have explained … More The Supernatural in Judaism
In 538, Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, incidentally ending the Babylonian Exile. He died in 530, and was succeeded by Cambyses II. Cambyses died in 522, and was succeeded by his brother, Bardiya, for a few months. Darius the Great then became emperor after a coup the same year. Haggai’s prophecies occurred in … More Haggai
A popular objection to Judaism and to Torah, in general, is that there are too many rules, that the standard for being righteous is set so high that it is unachievable. Generally speaking, this argument originates with Christian reasoning for the necessity of a “new” covenant, although I’ve seen similar arguments made by some Jewish … More You Can’t Follow All of the Rules!
In several places in Torah, Hashem commands us to love Him with all our hearts and with all of our being. We are also likewise commanded to fear him, that is, to revere and respect him. Hashem presents himself to us in a manner ancient people could comprehend as a divine king. Unlike many other … More To Awe in Hashem and His Creation
The Korban Pesach (Passover Offering) and the Chag Hamatsot (pilgrimage festival of unleavened bread) is among the most important holidays in the Torah. The Chagim (pilgrimage festivals) are second only to Shabbat in the order of essential holiday observances. Much of the religious calendar centres on this holiday. This article will describe proper observance of … More The Chag Hamatsot (Passover)
One of the more fascinating quirks of biblical phrasing is the tendency of the authors of the TaNaKh, to say nothing of its translators, to use intimate, emotional language to describe political decisions and actions, and to portray the following of tradition such that it can be attributed to chance. The stories of David ha … More The Hidden Story of Bathsheba
While many Torah topics are pleasant and intellectually stimulating, some are unpleasant and at times a little uncomfortable to speak about. In our modern society few topics are as uncomfortable as bodily fluids and death. This article will be about the Torah’s rules regarding both. There are many interesting aspects of this topic to explore, … More Ritual Cleanliness
Silver Trumpets 