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

How “Blessed” were Bilaam’s Blessings? by Yaakov Bieler

How Goodly Are Your Blessings?            
We recently read one of the most well-known verses that comprise Jewish liturgy.  Siddurim[1] and Machzorim instruct that when an individual enters the synagogue, the first of several verses to be recited is, (BaMidbar 24:5) “How goodly are your tents Yaakov, your dwelling places Yisrael.” While the simple meaning of Bilaam’s [...]

Pshat and Drash: What Did Korach Take? by Aryeh Klapper

רש”י במדבר פרק טז :א
“ויקח קרח” – פרשה זו יפה נדרשת במדרש רבי תנחומא.
“ויקח קרח” – לקח את עצמו לצד אחד להיות נחלק מתוך העדה לעורר על הכהונה,
וזהו שתרגם אונקלוס “ואתפלג” – נחלק משאר העדה להחזיק במחלוקת,
וכן (איוב טו, יב) “מה יקחך לבך” – לוקח אותך להפליגך משאר בני אדם.
דבר אחר:
“ויקח קרח” – משך ראשי [...]

In Memory of Professor Moshe Greenberg by Nathaniel Helfgot

As a committed student of Tanakh as well as chair of the Tanakh and Jewish Thought Departments at YCT Rabbinical School,  I would be remiss if I did not take note of the death last week of one of the leading Jewish scholars of Bible, as well as a wonderful human being, Prof. Moshe Greenberg [...]

From Our Archives: The Book of Ruth

In honor of Shavuot:
Megillat Ruth:  A Unique Story of Torat Hesed by Yossi Prager (35:4, 2001)
A (Critical) Review of Artscroll’s edition of Megillas Ruth by Isaac Boaz Gottlieb (21:1, Spring 1983)
Chag Sameach!
Shlomo Brody

Exodus and Emancipation: Measure for Measure in Biblical and African-American Slavery by Kenneth Chelst

Perception often succeeds by way of contrast and analogy. Our brains interpret what we see by comparing and contrasting the visualization with information stored in our memory. The African-American slave experience provides a rich source of both personal narratives and historical analysis that can enhance our perception of Israelite bondage and redemption. Conversely, the Exodus [...]

Abrabanel & The Menora: An Early Interpretation Supporting the Concept of Tora U’Madda by Yaakov Bieler

             
The latter Tora portions of the book of Shemot, with the exception of Ki Tisa, focus upon the construction of the Tabernacle and the fabrication of the ritual clothing worn by the priests when they were performing the Temple service. Most commentators are hard-pressed to derive rigorously argued, logical spiritual instruction from this quantitatively significant [...]

Purim and the Challenge of Human Sexuality by Gidon Rothstein

At a crucial moment of the Megillah named after her, Ester tells Mordechai that she will go and speak to Ahashverosh uninvited, asks him to pray for her, and closes by saying, וכאשר אבדתי אבדתי, when I am lost, I am lost.  Megillah 15a puts a twist on this phrase that brings it in line [...]

The Bones of Yosef by Nathaniel Helfgot

The Torah, in an apparent aside at the beginning of Parashat Beshallah (Ch. 13:19), informs us that as the Israelites were leaving Egypt, Moses recovered the bones of Joseph to fulfill the request/oath that Joseph had made the people swear to him long ago that when the redemption would come they would take his bones [...]

The Self-Sacrifice of the Frogs: Halakha, Aggadata, and Martyrdom by Aryeh Klapper

תלמוד בבלי מסכת פסחים דף נג עמוד א –ב
אמר רבי יוסי: תודוס איש רומי הנהיג את בני רומי לאכול גדיים מקולסין בלילי פסחים.
שלחו לו: אלמלא תודוס אתה, גזרנו עליך נדוי, שאתה מאכיל את ישראל קדשים בחוץ.
קדשים סלקא דעתך?! אלא אימא קרוב להאכיל את ישראל קדשים בחוץ.
איבעיא להו:
תודוס איש רומי גברא רבה הוה, או בעל אגרופין [...]

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