Posts Tagged: Jeremy Rosen
Adapting Jewish Law Isn’t a Trick; It Helps Us Preserve Tradition
The Bible emerged in -- and out of -- a world that was predominantly agricultural; a world where seasons and produce determined how societies flourished...
Abortion and Jewish Law
New York’s Reproductive Health Act was signed into law by Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo on January 22, to a standing ovation and acclaim by state legislators. This...
Jewish Political Theory
It is often said that neither the Bible nor Judaism has a theory of politics or, indeed, of political systems. This is untrue. For 2,000 years,...
Forget Saying ‘Sorry’ — Just Be Honest
You are walking down a crowded New York street minding your own business, careful to avoid bumping into anyone else. Then someone smashes into you....
When Jewish Law Is Taken Too Far
"Halacha" is often translated as "Jewish law." But that is inadequate and misleading. Nowadays, we usually use the word law to mean jurisprudence. Halacha, however,...
In 2019, Oaths Are Meaningless
Anyone who has attended a Kol Nidrei service will know that there are seven terms in Hebrew and Aramaic for vows and oaths. They must have...
To Truly See, We Must Stop Demonizing Those Who Disagree With Us
“There is none so blind as he who will not see.” That, I think, applies nowadays to very many people. Seeing is not just looking....
The Lack of Shame in the Orthodox Jewish World
When I do or say something that I regret, I feel shame. I am aware that I have let myself down, and that I should...
The One Easy Answer: Blame the Jews
Every year when we come around to reading about Joseph and his brothers, I am reminded of a part of the Yom Kippur Ashkenazi service....
Who Is a Jew?
Israelites, Hebrews, Jews, whatever you call them, have been scattered and settled all over the place for thousands of years. It has become quite fashionable...
Making Sense of the Midterm Elections
Everyone seems to agree that the midterm elections in the US have been particularly bitter and antagonistic. But as an outsider who is now an...
Billy Rose — and Why We Can’t Write Off ‘Secular’ and Non-Religious Jews
Who was Billy Rose? If you have visited the museum complex in Jerusalem, not far from the Knesset, you will be familiar with the Billy...
Are Bible Stories Really True?
At this time of the year, we re-read the early chapters of Genesis with their fantastic tales of creation and early humanity struggling to cope...
In Good Faith: Challenging Religion and Atheism
In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism by Scott A. Shay (Post Hill Press; 2018). We now live in a world where, more than ever before, our...
