It is tragic even bizarre that most rabbis today sermonize by quoting Midrashim as if what the Midrash states, despite being contrary to nature, actually occurred. They also quote the views of mystics, but not rational thinkers such as Maimonides other than to quote a legal view of his that parallels those of mystics, leading [...]
The following essay is from my book “Mysteries of Judaism.” Gefen Publishing House will release my “Mysteries of Judaism II, How the rabbis and Others Changed Judaism” in February 2017. I would like this book to be as popular as the first “Mysteries of Judaism.” Therefore, I am attaching the first volume here for [...]
Did the Sun Stand Still for Joshua at Gibeon? Joshua 10 narrates an astounding story. Joshua, Moses’ successor. and the Israelite forces fought against five southern Canaanite kingdoms and defeated them. Then Joshua sang a song praising God for causing the sun to stand still over the city of Gibeon and extending [...]
By Israel Drazin Gersonides’ books are not easy to read, but they are very thoughtful. He was one of several great Jewish rationalistic philosophers, along with Maimonides and Abraham ibn Ezra, but he was not as deep a thinker as these two men. But he was far more intellectual than most people. [...]
By Israel Drazin Biblical prophecy does not predict what will be The view of traditional thinkers Most people read the Bible literally without much thought. When the Bible has a prophet say that something will occur, they understand this as a vision from God of what will occur. However, the [...]
