Posts Tagged: Jeremy Rosen
God’s ‘Rebuke’ in This Week’s Torah Portion
A major part of the double Torah portion we read this week (which ends the Book of Vayikra) is what is called the Tochecha, which...
How Does ‘An Eye for an Eye’ Hold Up Today?
“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” is one of the best-known rules not only in the Torah, but universally. It...
Shabbat Teaches the Jewish People to Be Different — and We Should Embrace That
"Moshe then gathered the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that God has commanded you to do. On six days...
Why Joseph in Egypt Was a Great Politician
In the Torah, Joseph (Yosef) comes across as a consummate politician. It starts off with the way he deals with his brothers, who have come...
Examining the History of Mount Gerizim: The Samaritans’ Holy Temple
After two weeks of the most important laws of the Torah, Moses now gives instructions about what the Jewish people should do when they enter...
The Illusion of Control: How an Open Mind Can Help Protect Us
Humans love certainties. We think we know the answers, but many times, we don't. Our history is replete with failed systems and misguided leaders. Look...
The Torah Teaches That Welfare Should Be Granted to the Truly Needed — But Never Abused
In this week's Torah portion, we read: “If a fellow Hebrew male or female is sold to you, they will serve you for six years....
Remembering Alexander the Great, and the History of the Jewish People
Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) holds a very special place in Jewish historiography and mythology. He passed through the Land of Israel on his way...
Should We Hide Our Tsitsit or Kippot to Protect Us from the Anti-Jewish Mob?
This week's Torah reading is mainly concerned with the 12 men sent by Moses to tour the land of Israel before entering it. On their...
Why Do We Keep Kosher?
After dealing with the sacrificial system, and the roles that priests play within it, the Torah turns to the laws of kashrut. More specifically, the...
Rosh Hashanah, 2023
In one sense you could say that Rosh Hashanah is a festival about parents and children. From the Torah, we read about Abraham’s tortured relationships. Sarah...
Shabbat Shoftim: The Torah Demands a Legal and Judicial System
In the ancient world, all governments had three elements. The king or queen was the political head, and the representative of God on earth. The...
Why Jews Are Called the ‘Chosen’ People – and Why It’s Often Misunderstood
It still amazes me how often I hear non-Jews claim that Jews are arrogant and exclusive because we claim to be the Chosen People. And...
All Religions Can Be Laughed At — Even Judaism
In 1979, “The Life of Brian” by Monty Python comedians was a tremendous hit in Britain -- and a scandal. The cast was composed of...
