Modern Jewish marital traditions are based upon those to be found in the Torah. The Torah was given in a particular cultural context which no longer exists. For this reason modern traditions have evolved as our social context has changed. In this article I will explore the concept of marriage in the Torah and traditions built upon it. … More Jewish Marriage: Torah and Tradition
Why does G-d allow bad things to happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? These are two of the most fundamental questions addressed by religion. Many people put their faith in a final judgment, reincarnation, or an after life to balance things out. I don’t. I believe that Torah is about this life. … More Why do Bad Things Happen?
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
The prophet Tsephania (Zephaniah) was active during the same time as Y’remiyahu (Jeremiah), and like his contemporary, was concerned with the sack of Jerusalem and conquest of Yehudah. Like Yermiyahu, Tsephania was not a professional prophet, but a man of position and pedigree. While Yermiyahu was a priest closely related to the High Priest and … More Zephaniah
I frequently interact with people who are new to Judaism and Karaism, and it often happens that they ask me for book recommendations. The following are the books I recommend about Karaism in the order I would suggest reading them. As It Is Written. This is a slim volume containing a very basic introduction to … More A Reading List
Pantheism is a belief in an eminent deity that is one with the natural world. This approach to the divine became popular in the Enlightenment Era that followed the works of René Descartes (day-kart). The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries would see many great minds apply rationalism and science to religion. A new approach to faith arose out of … More Panentheism
As Israelites we are Hashem’s priests, His ambassadors, His soldiers, His labourers, His children, and His caregivers. Everything we do, no matter how mundane or how exalted, reflects upon Him. We have duties to Him in our daily lives to represent Him and make a good show of it. We have duties to one another as citizens of Hashem’s Holy Nation. What are those duties and how seriously must we take them? … More Our Duties as Israelites and Jews
The proper pronunciation of G-d’s name is a source of much debate and contention among religious and academic scholars. Several versions are in use today: Yahweh, Yehovah, Yehowah, Yehuah, Yuwah, Yihweh, Yoah, etc… The reason for this debate is the lack of vowels in ancient Hebrew letters. The vowel “pointing” system in use today was … More How to Pronounce יהוה (YHVH)
Bible Battles To watch Bible Battles on Youtube click here. Overall, this is an excellent documentary. One of the points I like to make about Torah study is that there is great value in hearing different opinions. Here, military historians examine the scriptures from their point of view. Unlike religious scholars, secular archaeologists, and the … More Documentary Review: Bible Battles
The book of Daniel never identifies him as a prophet. He was given visions of events that took place about 300 years after he died. Those visions were sealed to be unveiled after the events they describe had come to pass (Daniel 12:9). Therefore, that they have been unveiled suggests that our ancestors believed these … More Is Daniel a Prophet?
Silver Trumpets 