From Our Archives: Parashat Noach

A Note on the Flood Story in the Language of Man by Joel Wolowelsky
Be Fruitful and Multiply by David S. Shapiro
The Universal Nature of Pru Urva and an Analysis of its Implications by David Neustadter
Making the Bible Come to Life:  Biblical Archaeology and the Teaching of Tanakh in Jewish Schools by Lawrence Schiffman
- Shlomo Brody

From Our Archives: Parashat Beraishit

Population Control:  The Jewish View by Moses D. Tendler (8:3, 1966)
Halakhic Criteria for Defining Human Beings by Moshe D. Tendler and John D. Loike (37:2, 2003)
On Contradictions between Torah and Science:  The First Day of Creation – The Origin of the Universe by Nathan Aviezer (24:4, 1989)
The Biblical Stories of Creation, Garden of Eden, and [...]

New Parasha, Archives, and Print Features

We are pleased to announce that our regular contributor, Rabbi Yaakov Bieler, will begin posting weekly essays on the parasha for Text & Texture.  Rabbi Bieler’s essays will feature philosophical ruminations based on textual analysis and commentaries, but will not be overly technical and will remain accessible to a wide audience.    We are sure you will enjoy [...]

Books of Interest: Important Studies on Repentance

Two recent book on teshuva are genuine must-reads.
The first, Takanat Ha-Shavim (2007) by Prof. Nahum Rakover, discusses all aspects relating to the rehabilitation of criminals in halakha.  He discusses when and how we limit the reinstatement of offenders (especially if they had a public position) as well as the debates regarding how to demonstrate true [...]

May One Wear Crocs on Yom Kippur? Halakha, Stringencies, and “Cursed Chumrot” by Shlomo Brody

Over the past few years, repeated controversies have erupted over the wearing of Crocs on Yom Kippur.  Outside of regular rabbinic discourse, one occasionally hears within popular, casual conversation (or in online feedbacks or blogs on website) complaints that the naysayers are simply “machmirim,” as if that is a curse word.
I wondered if this perceived [...]

The Aleinu Prayer and the Pardes Story: Major Trends in Hekhalot Literature Research by Shlomo Brody

The prayer Aleinu, which plays a central role in the Rosh Hashana liturgy, first appears within the Hekhalot literature, a large corpus of mystical writings and experiences which emerged in late antiquity.  This literature, full of narratives of Sages ascending to the Heavens – including the famous Pardes story also found in the Talmud – [...]

New Tradition – 43:2, Featuring Debate Between Rabbis Eli Shulman and Michael Broyde on Women’s Hair Covering

Vol. 43, No. 2, Summer 2010

Editor’s Note: “He Thought She Was Drunk” by Shalom Carmy
Towards a Jewish Bioethic: The Case of Truth-Telling by Judah L. Goldberg
The Limits of Religious Optimism: The Hazon Ish and the Altar of Novardok on Bittahon by Daniel Stein
The Metaphysics of Property Interests in Jewish Law: An Analysis of [...]

From Our Archives: Writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook

Friday, August 13th (the 3rd of Elul) is the 75th yahrzeit of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, zt”l (1865-1935), a leading figure of religious Zionism.  In commemoration, we highlight several select essays from our archives that feature the writings, life, and legacy of Rav Kook. 
From the Pages of Tradition:  R. Abraham Isaac Ha-Kohen Kook:  Letter on Ahavat Yisrael by Shnayer [...]

Homosexuality and Halakha: In Tradition and Beyond

In light of the public discussion surrounding the recent Statement of Principles on homosexuality and Judaism, penned by one of our regular contributors, Text & Texture is making available some of the Tradition articles that have been written about homosexuality and halakha.  Additionally, we include below an essay by Rabbi Michael J. Broyde and Rabbi Shlomo [...]

From Our Archives: Idolatry – A Prohibition for Our Time

In light of the Sefer Devarim’s repeated condemantion of idolatry, please see our featured archive article,
“Idolatry: A Prohibition for our Time” by Herzl Hefter (42:1, 2009)
- Shlomo Brody

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