One of the most tragic occurrences in Judaism’s long history is the frequent acceptance of alien, often heathen and Christian notions, thinking the notions are Jewish.[1] This phenomenon occurred not only among the uneducated masses; rabbis also fell prey to it, simply because they lacked sufficient knowledge of Jewish history, philosophy, and theology. The [...]
The sixth portion of Numbers is Chukat (19:1-22:1). The single Hebrew word Chukat needs to be translated into two English words, “a chok of.” The term chok means “inscribed” and “engraved,” laws placed in law books. The Decalogue is an example, as are all the laws in the Torah. This is the translation in [...]
The fifth of the ten biblical portions in Numbers, Korach (16:1-18:32), raises many questions, including how to translate the words“Korah took” when the Torah does not say what he took, what argument Korak used when he criticized Moses, why Moses’brother Aaron was also attacked, and why leaders of the tribe of Reuben joined Korach’s [...]
In The Limits of Orthodox Theology: Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles Reappraised, Rabbi Dr. Marc B. Shapiro examines the thirteen principles that Maimonides outlines in his Commentary on the Mishnah, Introduction to Perek Chelek. As we will see, not everyone accepted these thirteen principles; many who reject them are well-respected Orthodox Jews. Shapiro shows that traditional [...]
My favorite Bible commentary is by Arnold Bogumil Ehrlich (15 January 1848 in Volodovka, Brest-Litovsk, to November 1919 in New Rochelle, New York). He was a brilliant scholar of the Bible and rabbinic literature. He perfectly recalled what he read and heard and could speak thirty-nine languages. He is best known for his book Mikra Kiphshuto, “The Bible [...]
The Hymn Yigdal is a song found in the Siddur prayer book and sung in synagogues on Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions. It is based on Maimonides's thirteen principles of Judaism, in his Commentary on the Mishnah, Introduction to Perek Chelek. There is a third version, Ani Ma’amin (I believe), in the Siddur. However, [...]
Adon Olam is one of the dearest songs sung during synagogue services. It is recited or sung at different times in different countries, usually at the end of the Shabbat and holiday morning service. Some Ashkenazi communities may recite it at the end of Friday evening services. It became part of the services in the [...]
The two words of the Friday night poem/song "Shalom Aleichem" are a traditional Jewish greeting, meaning "may you have peace.” The poem has the reciters and singers greet angels and ask them for blessings of peace and protection. It was written by one or more unknown Kabbalist poets of Safed, Israel, in the late [...]
Continuing my encouragement of people of all religions to read prayers and the Bible, study, and learn to understand what they are reading to improve themselves, society, and the entire world, I will give some history of the Shema, my new translation, and comment on why I changed the literal wording. The [...]
One of the purposes of writing my essays is to encourage people of all religions to read or recite prayers and the Bible and to understand what they are reading, because understanding will inform and improve them. An example is Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah. The Hebrew stirs many Jews when they hear it sung, [...]
It is hard to believe, but unfortunately, it is true. Although many Israeli Jews accept Black Ethiopian Jews as they accept white Jews, there are Israelis who discriminate against them, including government officials and [...]
How could the Bible describe God saying in Genesis 1:31 that “all He did was very good” when we see that people are frequently hurt? The Laws of Nature that God created do much good. A strong wind, even a violent one, cleans the air, but it often hurts and even kills some people. [...]
Readers will enjoy Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel’s 2025 301-page book, “Jewish Values in the Torah Portion,” published by Gefen Publishing House. Rabbi Amsel writes interestingly and openly about subjects that will fascinate readers. Rabbi Amsel is the Director of Education at Rabbi Berel Wein’s Destiny Foundation, which aims to excite and entertain people [...]
The eighth biblical portion of Leviticus, Emor, 21:1-24:23, the thirty-first of fifty-four portions, contains some enlightening and humane rules. But, it also leaves us with a question that has been asked for centuries without an adequate answer. In prior essays, we saw many Torah rules that benefit all humans and societies. They are [...]
I am convinced that judging others harms us. Judging others means criticizing them or complaining about them. It is a serious crime. It is the opposite of the basic principle of the Torah. Sometimes it is allowed It is proper for people to judge others in situations when doing so improves them and [...]
The biblical portion Kedoshim, 19:1-20:26, is read together with the prior portion of Aharei Mot during non-leap years, as happens during the week beginning May 4, 2025. It contains many significant laws dealing with holiness. What is holiness? Many think “Holiness” is an other-worldly, mystical concept, or a way of acquiring something divine. [...]
The terms “Azazel” and Yom Hakippurim are discussed in the biblical portion of Aharei Mot (16:1-18:30), but neither is part of Judaism today. There are radically different interpretations of “Azazel” and the ceremony no longer exists. Yom Hakippurim was replaced by Yom Kippur, which is not a biblical holiday. Yet there is much we [...]
Sometimes, trying to help people seems complicated, but in this case, where the goal is to learn the lessons of the Torah, we have a case where the goal justifies the means. Two biblical portions, Tazria and Metzora, are read together during the week beginning April 27, 2025. This gives us a chance to [...]
There were many biblical words that translators and commentators mistranslated. Tzaraat was one of the many. It is mentioned in the thirteenth chapter of the fourth biblical portion of Leviticus, Tazri’a 12:1-13:59. Earlier this week, I posted an essay showing four mistranslations of the Bible. This is a fifth of the many that exist. [...]
Unfortunately, there are many instances of well-meaning, intelligent people misinterpreting the Bible. Sometimes, they did it intentionally to teach a lesson, and sometimes, they got it wrong. I will give two examples of each. Intentional mistranslations An example of the first kind is that the Hebrew word nefesh in the Torah means a [...]
We need to question everything, even our prayers. By questioning, we learn; by learning, we improve ourselves and help improve others and even inanimate items. An example is a seemingly silly statement in one of our prayers. Many Jews follow a meal that includes bread with a rather long collection of blessings to [...]
Despite Leviticus dealing with the no longer existing tabernacle and the priests who functioned in it, the book contains important lessons for us today. The following are three such lessons in the portion Shemini (9:1-11:46) as seen by the rational thinker Shadal. Verse 9:4 commands the offering of a sacrifice and concludes with [...]
The world is currently experiencing turmoil. Two large wars have sparked riots in the streets. Some people are satisfied, but many are not. They are anxious. The second biblical portion of the Book of Leviticus, Tsav (6:1-8:36), states in 7:26, “You may not eat blood, wherever you reside, neither of flying creatures nor [...]
Daniel A. Klein provides readers with a splendid contribution through his series, in which he translates, edits, and explains the rational ideas Shadal wrote in Italian and Hebrew on the Torah, also known as the Five Books of Moses. Readers will enjoy his third book, “Shadal on Leviticus.” The following is a brief synopsis [...]
Many politicians, including those who are well-meaning, suggest that the only practical solution to the long-standing strife between Palestinians and Jews is a “two-state solution,” an idea developed with the Oslo Accords in 1994. They are wrong. It is a formula for a never-ending conflict. David Friedman served as US ambassador to Israel from [...]
The eleventh Exodus weekly Torah reading Pekekudei (38:21-40:38) is the last portion of Exodus. Exodus was so named because the book relates the events of the Israelites leaving Egypt. It is also called in Hebrew Shemos, based on the practice of naming a book after the first significant word in the book. Nachmanides (1194-1270) [...]
The tenth and eleventh weekly Torah readings from Exodus, Vayakkel (35:1-38:20) and Pekekudei (38:21-40:38) deal with the construction of the Tabernacle during Moses's time. Many readers think the events and rules are not significant today because the temples later replaced the tabernacle, and both did not exist after Rome destroyed the second temple in [...]
The ninth weekly biblical reading in Exodus Ki Tissa (30:11-34:35) tells us significant details about God, the Torah, and the Shabbat, revealing deep meaning and significance that should affect our thinking and behavior. God’s finger Verse 31:18 states that God's finger composed the two tablets of stone containing the Decalogue. The word “Decalogue” [...]
Shabbat Zachor (Sabbath of Remembrance) is the Shabbat that immediately precedes Purim. On this Shabbat, we conclude the weekly Torah reading with an additional reading, usually from a second Torah scroll from Deuteronomy 25:17-19, which describes the attack of Amalek shortly after the Israelites under the leadership of Moses left Egyptian slavery.[1] Moses commands the people [...]
The eighth weekly biblical portion, Tetzavveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10), deals primarily with the sanctuary, later called temple and still later synagogue, and priests who functioned in the first two types of buildings that no longer exist. Priests are not prominent in synagogues today but are given honors and functions. While the sanctuary and temples no [...]
