From Our Archives: Rav Ovadiah Yosef on the Status of Ethiopian Jews

One of the more influential psakim delivered by Rav Ovadiah Yosef zt”l related to the halakhic status of Ethiopian Jews, as discussed in an article in today’s Yediot Achronot. See here for Don Seeman’s article (Summer 1991) on this ruling in light of ethnographic research. On the status of Ethiopian Jewry in general, see this [...]

From Our Archives: Tradition Articles on Arms Sales and Halakha

J. David Bleich: Sale of Arms in Halakha Joseph Polak:  Arms Transfers, The State of Israel, and Halakha Sidney Hoenig:  The Sport of Hunting:  A Humane Game? All available for free download. – Shlomo Brody

From Our Archives: Shavuot and BeHa’alotcha

Particularly appropriate for this week is a close reading of the Humash by Rabbi Zvi Grumet.  Rabbi Grumet’s article, “WITHIN AND WITHOUT OUR ENCAMPMENT IN THE DESERT: The Ambivalent Acceptance of a Biblical Convert” (Spring 1994 28:3), examines the account of Moshe’s conversations with his father-in-law, in which they discuss the latter’s conversion to a [...]

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 [...]

From Our Archives: Circumcision and Modern Technology

Laser Circumcision by J. David Bleich The Use of Anesthesia in Circumcision:  A Re-Evaluation of the Halakhic Sources by Edward Reichman and Fred Rosner Hypospadias and Circumcision by Rabbi J. David Bleich The Making of Metzitzah – 1972 by Yehuda Pesach Shields – Shlomo Brody

From Our Archives: In Defense of Brain Death and Halakhic Organ Donation – Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman

In the recent report  written by the head of the RCA halakhic committee on the halakhic issues of brain death, the article emphasizes that contemporary medicine now recognizes that even after “brain death” has occurred, there continues to be much neurological activity.  The report then utilizes this information to claim that the medical criterion established by [...]

From Our Archives: Parshat Vayishlach – War Ethics and Esav

Yitzchak Blau; Biblical Narratives and the Status of Enemy Civilians in Wartime A reoccurring theme in this week’s parsha is military expeditions.  In this essay, Yitzchak Blau talks about the Jewish attitude to war,  with reference to this incident and with regard to its modern day interpretation. We further include the correspondence which it generated [...]

From Our Archives: Parashat Vayetze and Tefillat Ha-Derech

William Etkin,     Jacob’s Cattle and Modern Genetics: A Scientific Midrash In the best tradition of Torah UMada, Etkin takes the scientific theories at the cutting edge of his field to solve a difficult part of our parsha. Aryeh Newman, The Centrality of Eretz Yisrael in Nachmanides As we begin those parshiot which describe the [...]

From Our Archives: Parashat Toldot and R’ Steinsaltz Talmud

Rivka: The Enigma Behind The Veil – Esther Shkop (2002) Esther Shkop takes us through some the central questions about Rivka’s character,  with a particular focus on her conduct at the end of this weeks parsha. A Midrash on Morality or When is a Lie Permissible – Norman Frimer (1973) A fascinating piece on the [...]

From Our Archives: Parashat Lech Lecha

Abraham’s Ordeals Revisited by Aryeh Spero (24:1, Fall 1988) Abraham’s Nephew Lot:  A Biblical Portrait by Raymond Harari (25:1, Fall 1989) The Use of Anesthesia in Circumcision:  A Re-Evaluation of the Halakhic Sources by Edward Reichman & Fred Rosner (34:3, 2000). – Shlomo Brody

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