Harry Zeitlin
ARTICLES BY: Harry Zeitlin
The Past, Present and Future of the Jews
Ki Ani Hashem Lo Shaniti (Malachi 3:6), "Because I am God, I do not change." A close reading of the very final words of the official...
Israel Really Is Real
Israelis tend to speak plainly and directly and brook very little nonsense. This isn't to say that they lack a sense of humor, but it doesn't resemble the...
Curses Into Blessings
Even an elementary approach to Parshat Balak demonstrates that, in the long run, our enemies are unable to curse us, because The Holy One will...
What It Means to Be A Jew
There are so many attempts to define what it means to be a Jew. Is it genetic? Consensual? Opting-in? Participatory-only? Are you a Jew because...
Conflicting Claims to the Land of Israel: What Every Yeshiva Boy Studying Basic Talmud Knows
One of the great tragedies of the modern Jewish state is that the Zionist movement, which birthed it, was (and still largely is) dominated almost...
The Yitro Effect and US-Israel Relations
Israel never had a greater ally and supporter than Yitro (Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, a ger tzedek, a righteous convert. Vayichad Yitro al kol hatovah asher asah Hashem l’Yisrael (Shemot 19:9), “And Yitro rejoiced at...
At the Seder: What If You Just Don’t Feel It?
There are likely to be at least a couple skeptics at most seder tables. The story of the Exodus, with it’s other-worldly plagues, set in the midst of detailed...
A Passover Prayer for Health
Three times a day we recite the the eighth blessing in the Amida praying that all Israel be healed. The language is very specific. It says “Rofay kol amo...
Is the World Perfectible?
We don’t consider the material world to be perfectible, because we aim higher. Bringing the “world,” the "small universe" occupied by each individual Jew -- refining himself,...
On Ambiguity
Too many people fear ambiguity. We love Purim with its clear-cut heroes -- Esther and Mordechai -- and villain Haman. There's no question that Pharaoh, who self-hardens...
The Day After
Haman’s plot failed. He and all of his sons were hung on the gallows he had erected to kill Mordechai. Only yesterday condemned to death, he is...
A Request for a Favor From Some of My Fellow Rabbis
I'd like to ask some of my colleagues a favor. I teach Torah for a living, often to people who don't have a lot of background....
Unity = Survival
One of the miracles of the Jewish people is that, at least as a core group, we’ve remained united as one. Taking into consideration our vast...
Exploiting Antisemitism
Yes, you read the title correctly. We can employ antisemitism for our own benefit. Of course, we’d be better off with out it, but since...
