Another unusual notion of Yehudah Halevi Schocken Books, which published Yehudah Halevi’s The Kuzari in a paperback volume, wrote: “The Kuzari is one of the basic books of Jewish literature, a required text in the library of every educated Jew – and every educated Christian who would understand the religion of Israel.” [...]
The unreasonable view of some rabbis about conversion Conversion into Judaism is not an ancient idea although rabbis prefer to say that it is. For example, there is good reason to believe that the rabbis misinterpreted Deuteronomy 17:15 which states “One from among your bothers shall you set as king over you, [...]
The mistaken theology of Yehudah Halevi Yehudah Halevi (1071-1141) was the foremost exponent of the notion that Jews are the chosen people, which he explained in an extremely problematical manner. He was a Spanish Jewish poet who composed a book on Jewish theology that captured the attention of many Jews. The book [...]
Why Are 39 Labors Prohibited on the Sabbath?[1] People familiar with the Jewish Sabbath laws know that the Hebrew Bible, the Torah, doesn’t list the activities prohibited on the Sabbath; rabbis instituted these laws and say that the laws are “hinted” in the Torah.[2] These hints are based on two of many [...]
Under the Dawn’s Light By Aharon Appelfeld Translated from Hebrew by Jeffrey M. Green Schocken Books, 2011, 231 pages Cost $11.84 This is the fourth Aharon Appelfeld novel that I read this week. The time is just before and just after 1900, long before Adolf Hitler gained power in Germany and Austria, but the climate [...]
For Every Sin By Aharon Appelfeld Translated from Hebrew by Jeffrey M. Green Vintage Books, 1990, 168 pages Cost $9.76 This is the third Aharon Appelfeld book that I read this week. I posted reviews for “Unto the Soul” and “Laish.” I read each of the books in two ways. I enjoyed the story itself [...]
Laish By Aharon Appelfeld Translated from Hebrew by Aloma Halter Schocken Books, 2009, 231 pages Cost $20.74 Aharon Appelfeld - born in 1932 and awarded the Israel Prize for literature in 1983 as well as other international awards – is an acclaimed Israeli novelist. One could read his novels and enjoy them without delving [...]
Celebrating Judith’s success After beheading Holofernes, Judith and her servant return to Bethulia carrying Holofernes’ head in a bag. Achior is summoned to identify the dead general to assure the Bethulians that Holofernes is dead, but when he sees Holofernes’ head, he is overcome and unlike fearless Judith, he faints.[1] He revives, [...]
Avos D’Rebbi Nosson Translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel The classic work of Judaism, Pirkei Avot, "Ethics of the Fathers" in English, is a book written during the first half of the first millennia of the Common Era. It is read frequently by many Jews because of the undeniable wise lessons in it. Many [...]
Judith saves Judea Judith[1] acts in chapters 8-13:10. She was a rich, highly respected, “shapely and beautiful”[2] widow who for the three years and four months[3] after her husband’s death wore sackcloth around her waist, dressed in widow’s clothing,[4] and fasted every day except for the Sabbath and holidays.[5] She heard that [...]
Unto the Soul By Aharon Appelfeld Translated from Hebrew by J. M. Green Schocken Books, 1994, 211 pages Cost $12.64 The Guardian of London considered Israeli novelist Aharon Appelfeld - born in 1932 and awarded the Israel Prize for literature in 1983 as well as other international awards - “one of the greatest writers [...]
The following is based on what I wrote in my recent book “Unusual Bible Interpretations: Five Books of Moses.” Angels and demons Did brilliant well-respected ancient thinkers of all religions have ideas that modern people should reject? Certainly. Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers, had the despicable incorrect notion that women [...]
This following is a version of what I wrote in my recent book “Unusual Bible Interpretations: The Five Books of Moses.” Joseph’s vs. Pharaoh’s dreams The biblical scholar Arnold Ehrlich (1848-1919) criticizes people who only examine the Bible to find laws or moral lessons. He stresses[1] that the Bible [...]
What should one die for? The film “Monuments Men” tells how men risked their lives to save European works of art from being stolen or destroyed by the Nazis. Two of the men were killed during their somewhat successful endeavors. The film’s premise is that it is good to give up [...]
During the next three weeks, I will discuss the famed book Judith that was composed before the beginning of the Common era, which the rabbis refused to incorporate into the Bible. Why? The first seven chapters While Roman Catholics and Eastern churches included the Book of Judith as part of their [...]
Misconceptions about Hanukkah Many people have wrong ideas about the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. The following are a few examples: Hanukkah does not celebrate a victory over Greeks. The Greeks ruled many kingdoms as a result of Alexander’s conquests in the third century BCE, such as Egypt and Syria. [...]
Many mystics insist that the Zohar, the most famous book on Jewish mysticism, was composed by Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai around the year 130 CE. However, there are rabbis and scholars who recognize that Moses d' Leon, a Spaniard living in Granada, wrote it around 1286, that parts of the book were added by others [...]
Chapter 8 Ahasuerus elevates Mordecai With Haman dead, Ahasuerus gives Esther all the property owned by Haman.[1]Esther revealed to her husband her relationship to Mordecai and the king gave him the ring that he took from Haman. This ring may have given the holder huge power, as indicated in 3:10,[2] where [...]
After completing our examination of the book of Esther, we see that Esther is in no way similar to what people think the book contains. There is no mention of God in the book of Esther and no indication that the Judeans observed any biblical command. Even when the Judeans fasted because of Esther’s request, [...]
Asylum City By Liad Shoham Harper Collins, 2014, 324 pages ISBN 978-0-06-223753-8 Cost $19.25 This is the second Liad Shoham crime novel that I read. The first was Lineup. I enjoyed both. Shoham’s novels have fascinating fast moving plots with interesting well-drawn characters. The crimes and detections take place in Israel and have an [...]
This is a draft of chapter 7 of Esther, part of the book I propose to publish in 2016 "Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, and Judith." I will post chapters 8, 9, and 10 next week and then begin work on Judith. Chapter 7 Haman falls and is strung up [...]
Chapter 6 Many ironies Most readers of Esther read the story without catching the humor, irony, obscurities, and the skillful narrative skill of the book’s author. They are missing much. In chapter 6 Ahasuerus is unable to sleep. No reason is given for his insomnia.[1] He orders that “the [...]
Point to Ponder: Maimonides Think about this. I have been saying that there are many divergent interpretations of the Guide of the Perplexed by the great sage Moses Maimonides (1138-1204). Some scholars, such as Leo Strauss of the University of Chicago and I, are convinced that Maimonides wrote for two audiences, [...]
A Guide to the Complex By Shlomo M. Brody Maggid Books, 2014, 429 pages Paperback Cost: $26.02 Rabbi Shlomo M. Brody offers readers information about the origin of 134 Jewish practices and explains how and why they are practiced today in easy to read short, usually two and a half page chapters. Each essay [...]
Four Views about Divine Revelation There is no single view about divine revelation of the Bible. The following are four of the many opinions that scholars have offered. Abraham Ibn Ezra Ibn Ezra (1089-c.1167) mentions what he calls his “secret of the twelve” in his commentary to Deuteronomy 1:2. [...]
This is a draft of Chapter 5 of Esther which I hope to publish in 2015 or 2016 as "Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, and Judith." Chapter 5 Esther acts, but with hesitation After fasting for several days, Esther dons royal clothes, and on the third day she stands [...]
Would you like to review my book? If you are willing to read my latest book “Unusual Bible Interpretations: Five Books of Moses,” and agree to place your review on Amazon, I will send you a PDF of the book. Write to me at iddrazin@comcast.net and send me your email address and [...]
Does God Control and Manipulate Us? Since the beginning of time, since people believed that God exists, men and women of every religion asked whether God is involved in their lives and, if so, how? The Hebrew Bible does not answer this question. So individuals developed their own views. Those with a [...]
A very strange assessment of the Torah When Mordecai told Ether that Haman planned to murder all Judeans, Esther requested that Mordecai arrange that all Judeans fast for three days. The book of Esther does not reveal when the fast began. However there is an opinion in the Babylonian Talmud[1] that the [...]
Esther Chapter 4 Esther is persuaded to act Esther’s chapter 4[1] describe the Judean exiles’ reactions to Haman’s nefarious decree that allowed Persian citizens to murder every Judean, even women and children, on 13 Adar. According to Jewish tradition, which is not stated in the book of Esther, the decree [...]
