Italians, Romans, Germans and Edomites

By Yitzchak Grossman*
 
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, לְדָוִד:
הִנֵּה מַה-טּוֹב, וּמַה-נָּעִים– שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם-יָחַד.[1] 
How good and how pleasant it is 
that brothers dwell together.[2] 
מַשָּׂא דְבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּיַד, מַלְאָכִי. אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר יְהוָה, וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּמָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ; הֲלוֹא-אָח עֵשָׂו לְיַעֲקֹב נְאֻם-יְהוָה, וָאֹהַב אֶת-יַעֲקֹב. וְאֶת-עֵשָׂו, שָׂנֵאתִי; וָאָשִׂים אֶת-הָרָיו שְׁמָמָה, וְאֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ לְתַנּוֹת מִדְבָּר. כִּי-תֹאמַר אֱדוֹם רֻשַּׁשְׁנוּ, וְנָשׁוּב וְנִבְנֶה חֳרָבוֹת–כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, הֵמָּה יִבְנוּ [...]

What is the Halakhic Status of the Doctrine of the Trinity?

by Aryeh Klapper
Texts followed by analysis: 
Sanhedrin 63b
A beraita: “And the names of other divinities you must not mention” – this forbids a person to say to his friend ‘Wait for me next to that avodah zarah’; “it must not be heard on account of you” –  this forbids one from taking an oath in its name, [...]

Of Politeness and the Drawing of Lines

by Gidon Rothstein
 Although this is not a venue for making political comments about issues of our day, the recent Chanukah holiday set me on a trajectory of thought that led me to questions I think are productive for all of us to ask, and I therefore wish to share them with you.
To begin with a [...]

The Angel’s Oath: The Relationship of Hazal to the Platonic Doctrine of Recollection by David Flatto

The Angel’s Oath:  The Relationship of Hazal to the Platonic Doctrine of Recollection
by David C. Flatto
Whereas balei mussar and machshava dramatize the great clash between Judaism and Hellenism (which serves as the background to the holiday of Hanukka), Jewish historians go to great lengths to demonstrate the degree to which Second Temple Judaism was influenced [...]

Attention to Our Readers in Pakistan, Kuwait, Iran, and Oman

Dear Readers,
We hope that you are continuing to enjoy reading this blog.  We are particularly pleased that according to our web analytical tools, our blog enjoys a truly international readership.  I am particularly curious which of our readers are from Pakistan, Kuwait, Iran, and Oman!  If you would be so kind to drop me a note, I’d [...]

Of Miketz, Menorahs, and Majesty

Of Miketz, Menorahs, and Majesty
By Daniel Z. Feldman
 Halakhic Inquiries Regarding Yosef’s Behavior
The release of Yosef from prison, a moment of great drama and emotion, has also been the subject of halakhic inquiry. Some rishonim note, in light of the fact that his release took place on Rosh HaShanah[1], it is surprising that Yosef shaved at that [...]

Rambam’s Hilchot Hanukka: A Masterpiece of Hashkafah Blended Into Halachah

Rambam’s Hilchot Hanukka: A Masterpiece of Hashkafah Blended Into Halachah
By Gidon Rothstein *
I have long been fascinated by the first chapter of Rambam’s presentation of the laws of Hanukka.  As a first oddity of the presentation, I note that Rambam folds the laws of Hanukka into one set of laws along with those of Purim.  [...]

From Our Archives: Hanukka @ Tradition Online

Prof. Gerald Blidstein – Hanukka in Hazal:  The Missing Players  (Tradition 35:3 – Fall ‘01)
Rabbi Leo Landman – Gambling in the Synagogue (10:1 – Summer ‘68)
Chanukah Sameach!
- Shlomo Brody

When was the Mitzvah of Candle Lighting Declared?

When was the Mitzvah of Hadlakot Nerot Declared? 
By Nathaniel Helfgot
R. Isaac Judah Trunk of Kutno (1879-1939),1 in his work Hasdei Avot  #17,2 proffers  a fascinating theory  in relation to the genesis of the lighting of Chanukah candles. He begins by noting that in the famous Talmudic discussion about the origin of Chanukah the section concludes [...]

Gid haNasheh: Yaacov Avinu’s Contribution to Jewish Spirituality

Gid haNasheh: Yaacov Avinu’s Contribution to Jewish Spirituality
by Gidon Rothstein
There are only three commandments recorded in the book of Bereshit, so when we come across one, we sit up and take notice.  If that weren’t enough, the prohibition of Gid haNasheh (commonly translated as sciatic nerve, but easily as likely referring to a muscle or [...]

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