Parashat Naso: Divine Assessment of the Tabernacle by Yaakov Bieler

Seeking a context for the last verse in the Parasha The last verse of Parashat Naso (BaMidbar 7:89), appears to be a non sequitur in the sense that its connection to what has just been stated, i.e., the sacrifices and donations to the Mishkan by the heads of the various tribes, and what is discussed [...]

From Our Archives: Yom Yerushalayim by Yonatan Kohn

  On the eve of Yom Yerushalayim, it is only natural to reflect upon the monumental events of the Six Day War and their wider implications.  Tradition published two symposia surrounding the theological implications of the war and the larger issue of G-d’s hand in history.  The first, published in the summer of 1968, takes [...]

From Our Archives: In Memory of Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine by Yonatan Kohn

This past week marked the shloshim for Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine, an Associate Editor of Tradition, the Samson and Halina Bitensky Professor of Economics at Yeshiva University, and spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY. Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Daniel Rapp wrote a touching tribute, available here.  Rabbi Dr. Levine was widely [...]

Parashat Bechukotai: Developing a Fear of Hashem – Does the Torah Prefer Negative Reinforcement? by Yaakov Bieler

Does the Tora prefer negative as opposed to positive reinforcement? The series of rebukes in Parashat BeChukotai are certainly enough to give anyone pause.[1] It is notable that whereas the Parasha begins with promises of reward in return for compliance with the Mitzvot of the Tora (VaYikra 26:3-13), the overwhelming majority of the verses in [...]

The Ben Ish Hai and Women’s Hair Covering: An Interesting Case of Censorship? by Jacob Sasson

While the nature of the obligation for married women to cover their hair has long been a subject of debate, most poskim agree that some degree of obligation exists, regardless of time or place.  Nonetheless, a number of poskim have dissented from that conventional position for a variety of reasons.  In the past several years, [...]

Parashat Behar: The Most Subtle Form of Oppression by Yaakov Bieler

Biblical terminologies for improper behavior towards another The Bible contains a number of Hebrew terms connoting oppression, persecution, and suffering. Not in any particular order, we find “Lachatz” (to pressure);[1]  ”Nagas” (to cause to work hard; the act of taking interest on a loan);[2] “Ina—Ayin Nun Heh” (to afflict);[3] and “Ina—Alef Nun Heh” (to oppress).[4] [...]

From Our Archives: Religious Responses to Jewish Statehood by Immanuel Jakobovits

Responses to Jewish Statehood (Fall 1982)  by Immanuel Jakobovits In his article, the late Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, z”l, seeks to identify the different streams of Orthodox Jewry in relation to their stance on the modern State of Israel.  His survey, anchored in robust print sources, outlines the major perspectives on [...]

Parashat Emor: Shabbat as Part of Judaism’s Overall Dialectic by Yaakov Bieler

Various references to Shabbat within the Tora. “Shabbat” appears in every book of the Tora,[1] and prior to Parashat Emor in VaYikra, where we read the following, VaYikra 23:3 Six days you shall do creative activity, and on the seventh day “Shabbat Shabbaton”, a holy convocation, all creative activity you shall not do. It is [...]

Books of Interest: New Publications on Tefilla by Shlomo Brody

The Orthodox book market has been blessed with a few new important books on the history of Jewish prayer, each of which are worthy of study and further reflect larger questions for study.  Rabbi Prof. Daniel Sperber’s book, On Changes in Jewish Liturgy: Options and Limitations (Urim Publications, 2010) is a thought-provoking work on the [...]