Jewish Communal Workers, Preacher’s Kid Syndrome, and Sefer Shmuel
…from our study of Jewish history, and we certainly know this to be true from countless episodes in Tanach. It is important to remember, however, that while a child may…
Saul Lieberman and his Ketubah, Driving on Shabbat, an Unusual Marriage Practice, Girls born on Friday, and More
…to this, and that was his ketubah. In order to help solve the Agunah problem, Lieberman proposed including in the ketubah a clause that the husband and wife authorize the…
Le-Tacen Olam (לתכן עולם): Establishing the Correct Text in Aleinu
…כון) found numerous times in the Tanakh (Jer. 30:20; Ps. 89:22, 93:1, 96:10, and 141:2; Prv. 12:19 and 20:18; I Kings 2:12; I Ch. 16:30; and II Ch. 8:16, 29:35,…
Birds’ Heads, Romaine Lettuce, and the Art of Reading a Haggadah
…much scholarship. Medieval Jewish and Christian artists often employed similar pictorial conventions; when similarities are observed, scholars have typically identified the Christian source, labeled the Jewish version as dependent, and…
The 1908 Student Strike at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary: A Newly Discovered Document
…English.[3] While that strike was settled, another student strike and a lockout occurred over similar issues in May 1908. The strike was ended when changes were promised by the board…
The Rabbi, the Rebbe, and the Messiah
…despite his death. Many people would struggle to point to any other similar times in history, besides for the Shabbethai Tzvi affair and his various successors[1], where someone was thought…
Marc B. Shapiro – Responses to Comments and Elaborations of Previous Posts III
…cities Hormah.” In other words, the Torah is describing an event, including the naming of a place, which will only take place a number of years later. This event is…
Emek ha-Netziv : The Manuscript
…Several factors indicate that Netziv’s commentary did, in fact, extend beyondpiska’ 27 of Parashat Ki Teẓeh.[21] To begin, Netziv starts his commentary at the beginning of Sifre with an introductory double couplet, and thus one…
Review of Reckless Rites
…this has been understood throughout history. Some hold there is no obligation of destroying Amalek today while others are willing to label any perceived enemy of Jews as deserving of…
Manasseh of Ilya and Y. Barzilay
…regard to the Halakhah and its historical development.” (p. 24). Therefore, Barzilay wants to then claim and project back on Manasseh’s early years and label him as a radical even…
Marc B. Shapiro – Clarifications of Previous Posts
…He includes letters from many great rabbis who agree with him that this is a form of avodah zarah. The problem he has, which he confronts in ch. 2, is…
Ten Commandment Representations in Hebrew Manuscripts & Books: Artistic Approaches to Theological Issues in Judaism
…the TY, the tablets were rectangular, six tefachim in length and three in width. The TB describes them as square, six by six. Some attempt to reconcile the two Talmudic…
“Improved” Making of a Godol
R. Nathan Kamenetsky has republished the first volume of his book, “Making of a Godol.” This new edition is labeled “Improved Edition.” The reasons for the improvements are well-known. The…
Rambam’s Response to the Inclusion of Chicken, Duck and Quail in Qaraite Cuisine
Rambam’s Response to the Inclusion of Chicken, Duck and Quail in Qaraite Cuisine By Tzvi H. Adams In “Waiting Six Hours for Dairy- A Rabbanite Response to Qaraism” (here) I…
What Did the Willows Ever Do to Deserve Such a Beating? An Original Explanation for a Perplexing Custom
…the day we now call הושענא רבה – has no special significance in the Torah. The day has no distinctive name; no mitzvot or rules distinguish it from the rest…