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 Was Joseph Punished for Embalming Yakov's Body? .: Viewed: 11523 times :.
(Gen.50:2) "And Joseph commanded the physicians to embalm his father." Rabbi Meir Leibush ("the Malbim" 1809-1879) cannot comprehend Joseph's command that his father's body be embalmed, and declares that, "the purpose of the burial ceremony is to enable the dead person's body to turn to dust." Jewish burial rites reflect the immense difference between the body and the soul. Ecclesiastes...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Sefirat Ha'Omer: How to Make Each Day Count! .: Viewed: 6607 times :.
Rabbi S.R. Hirsch explains that Sefirat Ha'Omer connects חרות הגוף of פסח with חרות הנפש of Shavuot. To be physically free and not to know what to do with one's life is not true freedom. One is still a slave to his יצר הרע . That is why...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Did G-d Have A "Need" To Create The World ? .: Viewed: 6050 times :.
Throughout the act of Creation, after each major step such as the creation of light, water and vegetation, the Torah tells us that va-yar Elohim ki tov , "and G-d saw that it was good." Taken literally, these passages strike us as grossly anthropomorphic, as if the Creator of the universe is a Cosmic Artist who, after every significant addition to His composition, steps back to admire His...
Published: October 10, 2012 |
Escorting Guests: A Greater Mitzvah than a Sumptuous Meal .: Viewed: 5425 times :.
The Talmud states (Shabbos 127a) that receiving and hosting guests is greater than greeting G-d. We learn this from Genesis 18:3, “Avraham said, ‘My L-rd, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please do not leave your servant’.” Avraham asked G-d to wait while he attends to his guests. Â The Mitzvah of Hachnosas Orchim (receiving and hosting guests) consists of three...
Published: November 1, 2011 |
Tisha'a B'Av-Did G-D Divorce Us .: Viewed: 5053 times :.
After the Ten Tribes had been exiled by Sancherev, Yishayahu speaks to the remaining tribes of Yehuda, Binyamin and Levi who remained in Eretz Yisrael. "Where is your mother's Bill of Divorce? I sent her away? INDEED! Because of your rebelliousness you were sent away!" (Yishayahu 50). The Prophet says that G-D will never divorce us.
However, the Radak brings the words of Yirmiyahu who...
Published: August 10, 2016 |
Life after Life .: Viewed: 4983 times :.
"And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and expired, and was gathered unto his people" (Genesis 49:33).
Death in the Bible is described as "the way of all the earth." (Joshua 23:14; I Kings 2:2). If a person knows when he is about to die he can set his affairs in order, bid farewell to his dear ones, and make peace with God. In the Jewish...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Rosh Hashana's Paradox: On Trial Or On Parade? .: Viewed: 4898 times :.
In the Torah, Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year is called yom trua (a day of blowing the trumpets; Numbers 29:1). Although trumpets are generally sounded on joyous occasions, here the trumpet or, more specifically the shofar (ram's horn) signifies a solemn holiday, when we are all put on trial, we all stand before the supreme Judge, G-d. This trial continues for 10 days until Yom Kippur...
Published: August 26, 2012 |
Esther's Debate with the Rabbis .: Viewed: 4662 times :.
When Esther sent the sages her request, "Write my story for future generations" (Megilla 6a), they responded, "You are arousing jealousy between us and the nations". Seemingly, their response is puzzling. Since when do we censor Scripture because of what the nations will say ? The Rambam in Igeret Teiman asks a similar question:
"What nation is so great that they have such righteous rules...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Our Mystical Connection To Eretz Yisrael .: Viewed: 4487 times :.
The Jewish people's connection with its land cannot be compared to that of other peoples' with theirs. No other people has a prior title deed or promise regarding their country. Theirs is a purely earthly link, one characterized by neither spiritual nor sacred ties. Their relationship to their homeland is governed by the fact that their ancestors happened to settle there. Whenever a people or...
Published: August 4, 2004 |
Wine in Judaism : Tikun For The Sin Of Adam & Noach .: Viewed: 4262 times :.
Why is wine so essential to Judaism? All of our sacred occasions are accompanied by the drinking of wine. To find the answer we must look into the Talmud. The Talmud discusses the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, wondering what type of fruit it was (B. Berachot 40a; B. Sanhedrin 70 a-b). Three opinions are presented.
According to one opinion, the forbidden fruit was wheat. This...
Published: October 15, 2012 |
Astrology & Judaism .: Viewed: 4236 times :.
In Judaism, different attitudes have been expressed towards astrology. Most Talmudic sages believed in the decisive role played by celestial bodies in determining human affairs. It was possible, they thought, for astrologers to predict the future by consulting the stars but also for them to err in understanding the contents of their forecasts. According to the Talmud, everyone has a particular...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Are the Dead Aware of the Living? .: Viewed: 4113 times :.
In memory of my student Baruch Naim ז " ל
When we visit a cemetery or remember a loved one on a Yahrzeit, we may find ourselves wondering whether the deceased are aware of us. Do they know what we are thinking about, what we are feeling? Do they empathize with our travails? Do they see our actions? Our Talmudic sages are divided over the question: What do the dead...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
A Modern Day Amalek? .: Viewed: 4044 times :.
Over 9000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel since the Gaza withdrawl and the expulsion of almost 10,000 Jews from their homes in Gush Katif in the summer of 2005. The sporadic rocket fire continues until today. Why does Hamas reject any peace with Israel or even the existence of Israel itself? Â There are the public proclamations by Hamas for the destruction of Israel and...
Published: February 8, 2012 |
Does The Halacha Permit Us To Ascend The Temple Mount .: Viewed: 4022 times :.
Does Jewish law permit us to ascend the Temple Mount today? This may seem only like a halachic question, but it has far reaching political consequences as well. Shortly after the Six Day War in June 1967, the Chief Rabbinate posted a large sign at the entrance to the Temple Mount stating that it is forbidden to enter the Temple Mount according to halacha. This prohibition was reiterated...
Published: August 29, 2007 |
Avraham's Eshel Tree .: Viewed: 3842 times :.
The Torah informs us in Bereshit (21:33), "And he (Avraham) planted an Eshel tree in Beer Sheva, and there he proclaimed the Name of Hashem, G-d of the Universe." Why does the Torah have to tell us about Avraham's planting of a tree? The Torah is not ancient history, but G-d's authorized manual for our daily lives. Moreover, how is "proclaiming the Name of Hashem, G-d of the Universe" related...
Published: October 29, 2014 |