When Pharaoh considered liberating the Jewish people from Egypt, G-d first hardened Pharaoh's heart against the idea and then punished him for enslaving the Jews. Astounding! G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart, denied him free will and then punished him?   more »

Many Jews are self conscious when they encounter a Jewish spectacle in public. “Judaism mustn't be worn on the sleeve,” they say, “It ought be practiced behind closed doors.” They hide from the world's eyes when they eat kugel and sip borscht. They secure the bolts before they don teffilin. They never kindle the Chanukah lights in public. As comedian Jackie Mason put it, “G-d forbid, the world should think us too Jewish.”   more »

Some creatures are clearly beneficial to the ecological system and enhance the lives of all creatures on the planet. Some creatures appear destructive, selfishly treating themselves to their every wish with no regard to the delicate balance of nature. Some creatures, such as the frog, neither contribute nor abuse, they simply are.   more »

There seems to be a fascination in Judaism with the number four. At the Seder we drink four goblets of wine, we have four matriarchs, Torah exegesis is divided into four general methods. What is the significance of this number?   more »

The pleasure with which they carried out their task, the expedience with which they fulfilled their mandate, and the cruelty that they displayed to our people is what justified the Ten Plagues.   more »