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
For a podcast discussion of this article click here. For a discussion on the reckoning of months and years in Karaite Jewish Tradition. The Jewish calendar is based upon the methods and descriptions provided in the Torah for calculating the passage of time. Rabbinical and Karaite traditions surrounding the calendar and its calculation vary. This … More The Jewish Calendar
I was born into a secular family. I did not have an experience of religion as a child except that my father is something of a deist. He did not approve of organized religion but did speak of G-d in specious terms and was otherwise scientifically inclined. Nevertheless, he spoke often of morality and the … More My Journey to Karaite Judaism
The Bible Unearthed is a book and documentary on the theories of Israel Finkelstein, a professor of archaeology at Tel Aviv University, and Neil Asher Silberman, a contributing editor for Archaeology Magazine. The documentary discusses the archaeological evidence of the stories contained in the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures). The Bible Unearthed presents the narrow academic view … More The Bible Unearthed: A Review
A friend recently raised a very valid point about the modern practice of Judaism that I wanted to address. The question concerns the use of electricity, artificial light, and heating on Shabbat. As my friend accurately pointed out, Shemot (Exodus) 35:3 prohibits the burning of fire on Shabbat. For the Israelites in the desert this … More Fire, Shabbat, and Modernity
I met a man recently whom I thought to be a secular Israeli, and he thought this of himself as well. After our talk I think we were both convinced that we were men of faith. He had overheard me discussing religious history with a friend. When my friend departed for other business this man … More Arguments for Faith
I was able to attend the aviv search for the very first time. We found a sufficient amount of ripe barley that the new year will begin at the end of the twelfth month. Happy New Year! Hashana Tova! If the barley is not ripe we must wait until a thirteenth month has passed and … More Aviv Search
In today’s difficult economic climate many businesses are trying to cut costs, especially restaurants. “So, what does that have to do with this blog?” you ask. Many Karaim in America, while not eating exclusively Kosher foods, do try to avoid forbidden foods, such as shell fish. Well, that has recently become a lot more difficult. … More There Is No Halfway
Do Not Debase Science: Don’t Call On It To Settle Your Ancient, Provincial, Medieval Disputes While I was at the [Ethics of Equality in Education] conference, I stayed at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where young rabbis – I think they were Orthodox – were studying. Since I have a Jewish background, I knew some of … More Dr. Feynman Comments on Talmudic Judaism
Silver Trumpets 