16 05, 2018

Did Ruth Convert to Judaism?

By |2018-05-16T08:33:45-07:00May 16th, 2018|Thoughts|

Many rabbis insisted that Ruth, and perhaps even Orpah, converted to Judaism, although the rabbis did not agree on when this occurred. There are good reasons to think that the concept of conversion did not exist during the time of Ruth and was only introduced into Judaism around 125 BCE. Until then, the Israelites thought [...]

13 08, 2017

Did Halevi prove that God exists?

By |2017-08-13T04:18:19-07:00August 13th, 2017|Book Reviews, Thoughts|

One of the best-loved books in Judaism is the Spanish Jewish poet Yehuda Halevi’s Kuzari (around 1075-1141), a book that was completed around 1140. It is considered by many to be an easy-to-read and informative book of philosophy that expresses, in the opinion of many, the basic principles of Judaism. Halevi’s goal was to demonstrate, [...]

14 07, 2016

Information we need to know

By |2016-07-14T10:00:35-07:00July 14th, 2016|Thoughts|

The following is from my friend, the scholar Rabbi Dr. Marc Angel. Shalom uvrakha, We all should be deeply distressed by the ongoing oppression of halakhic converts by Israel's Chief Rabbinate and its rabbinic courts. Already in 2006, the Chief Rabbinate began a process of undermining the status of Orthodox rabbis in the diaspora and [...]

13 03, 2016

Did Ruth Convert?

By |2016-03-13T04:17:53-07:00March 13th, 2016|Thoughts|

                                                                         Did Ruth Convert?   Many rabbis insisted that Ruth, and perhaps even Orpah converted to Judaism, although the rabbis did not agree when this occurred. There are good reasons to think that the concept of conversion did not exist during the time of Ruth and was only introduced into Judaism around 125 BCE. [...]

21 10, 2015

The unreasonable view of some rabbis about conversion

By |2015-10-21T07:16:33-07:00October 21st, 2015|Thoughts|

                                          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 [...]

7 01, 2015

The unreasonable view about conversion

By |2015-01-07T05:27:10-07:00January 7th, 2015|Thoughts|

                               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, [...]

11 08, 2014

One of the best biographies I read in years

By |2014-08-11T06:23:33-07:00August 11th, 2014|Book Reviews|

The Terrible Beauty of the Evil Man By Finis Leavell Beauchamp Finis Coronat Opus, 2014, 395 pages ISBN 978-0692237885 Cost $12.49   This is one of the best biographies I read in years. Finis’ experiences are unusual, even bizarre, but fascinating and thought-provoking. The book is written in language that reminded me of William Faulkner [...]

28 07, 2014

The truth about conversion

By |2014-07-28T07:44:32-07:00July 28th, 2014|Thoughts|

                                                                   The truth about conversion   Many rabbis insisted that the biblical Ruth and perhaps even Orpah converted to Judaism. There are good reasons to think that the concept of conversion did not exist at the time and was only introduced into Judaism around 125 BCE. Until that time, the Israelites thought of themselves as [...]

23 12, 2011

Race, angels, and evil

By |2011-12-23T07:03:50-07:00December 23rd, 2011|Thoughts|

By Israel Drazin   A reader of this website sent me three questions. Here are the questions and my responses.   (1)   I note your pure blue eyes and wonder: how do some Jews have such?  Do these features prove that Jews were breeding with non- Jews way back in history?   I THINK THAT [...]

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