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 the position [...]

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 in the [...]

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 experience of Galut [...]

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 enigmatic end to [...]

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

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 [...]

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