Monday, May 21, 2018
As I have often pointed out in these columns, Judaism is to be seen not only as a system of laws and commandments but, even more importantly, as a system of values and overriding attitudes. It really is the value system of Judaism that determines the application of the laws and commandments of the Torah. Without a true understanding of the underlying values and attitudes of the holy and eternal Torah, Judaism can often be misinterpreted and even distorted to represent ideas that are in reality antithetical to the Torah itself.
One of the most basic values and attitudes that underlie all Jewish thought and life is that of gratitude…to the creator for implanting within us eternal life,...
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Sunday, May 20, 2018
The almost endless repetition of the gifts of the elders of the tribes of Israel, at the time of the dedication of the Tabernacle in the desert, has presented a problem to all the commentators to the Torah over the ages. Why does the Torah, that is often so sparing with words even when discussing important and eternal commandments and issues, allow itself to be so expansive and repetitive in this matter?
As can be imagined, there are numerous discussions of this matter by the scholars of Israel over the centuries, though it is difficult to find an answer that proves to be both emotionally and intellectually satisfying. Even I am loath to tread in areas where even the great angels of...
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