Many arguments are made to justify the authority of the Rabbis. There are no Rabbis mentioned in the scriptural text, and modern Pharisaical/Rabbinical Judaism represents a significant departure from the Zadokite-led Judaism that prevailed before the Romans conquered Judea. What are some of the arguments in favour of Rabbinical authority that are based on the written Torah? … More The Source of Rabbinical Authority
Is it possible that the Sanhedrin, so much beloved by today’s Rabbis, was established under the authority of a Roman governor? … More The Sanhedrin
Many of my non-Jewish family members and friends have asked about how the dietary laws work. When they try to research Kashrut online they are just more confused. This is typical of resources based upon Talmudic Judaism: they are incomprehensible (not to mention utterly irrational). So I have decided to provide a general overview. First, … More Kashrut (Dietary Laws) Revealed
Noahides are a group of people who are not Jewish, who wish to live a Jewish lifestyle, and wish to have that lifestyle sanctioned by Jews. In order to accomplish this end they abide by a set of laws called the Noahide Laws. These laws are set for them by Jews. The Noahide laws are … More The Noahide Laws
The role and rights of women according to the Torah (and the examples set in the rest of the TaNaKh) are important to me, and not only because I am a woman. The biblical portrayal of women has set the tone for the treatment of women throughout both Western civilization and the Muslim world. It … More The Rights of Women in Judaism
Zoroaster or Zarathustra Although few Jews have ever heard his name, Judaism has a prophet named Zarathustra or Zoroaster. He lived about 2500 years ago in Persia. He left a few scriptural books or other works behind, but none of them are extant today. Nevertheless he is apparently a central prophet in Judaism. As I … More Judaism’s Silent Prophet: Zoroaster
The Sadducees are a topic of much debate and conjecture. Many different beliefs are ascribed to them, and all of the accepted sources are those hostile to the Sadducees. Imagine reading the history of the Republican Party as written by the Democrats or vice versa. Dr. Jona Lendering, a Dutch historian, wrote an article about … More The Sadducees, the Pharisees, and Judaism
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
The Rabbis tell us that the written Torah is too complicated for anyone to understand. Thankfully, they tell us, G-d gave Moshe a second “Oral Torah” that was handed down through the generations and was finally written down in the second century AD in a book called the Talmud. Never mind that the Hebrew Bible … More Is There an Oral Law?
Silver Trumpets 