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March 25, 2024 – 8:50 pm | Comments Off on Why We Must Resist The Cease Fire Resolution48 views

Tzav: Fighting Evil
We are surrounded by evil; every so often, it rears its ugly head as it did on Simchat Torah—the October 7 massacre. Pure evil raped Jewish mothers, burned Jewish babies alive, mutilated their fathers, and beheaded their neighbors. Pure evil burned loving couples clinging to each other, to …

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Articles in Questions of Ethics

Behaaloscha: Love Your Fellow

May 19, 2013 – 1:58 am | Comments Off on Behaaloscha: Love Your Fellow3,790 views
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When Your Brother Does Wrong
Several weeks ago, on Shabbat afternoon, we had a fascinating discussion. How should we respond when we learn through the media that our fellow Jew has behaved improperly or even immorally? Should we jump to condemn and separate ourselves from the crime lest it reflect badly …

Hypocrisy is not Kosher

March 31, 2013 – 5:45 am | Comments Off on Hypocrisy is not Kosher3,960 views
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The Positive First
Every Jewish child will tell you that kosher meat comes from a kosher animal. Most Jewish children will know that a kosher animal is one that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Some might even know that there are four animals listed in the Torah that …

Mishpatim: Finding the Truth

February 3, 2013 – 10:00 pm | Comments Off on Mishpatim: Finding the Truth2,715 views
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The Heart of an Argument
In Halachic jurisprudence there is a rigorous protocol for the conduct of a Jewish court on the day of a capital trial. Halacha requires that the case be heard in expedited fashion and with an eye toward finding the truth.  As soon as testimony is given …

Re’eh: Animal Rights

July 31, 2012 – 10:31 pm | Comments Off on Re’eh: Animal Rights3,244 views
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The Golden Mean
The world is full of animal rights activists who stand in the breach and protect our animals. They work to save endangered species and prevent animal abuse.

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Ekev: Animal Lovers

July 31, 2012 – 10:22 pm | Comments Off on Ekev: Animal Lovers4,018 views
WAR HORSE

Caring for Your Pet
From time immemorial people have raised animals, but they didn’t always love them. Early animal domesticators put their animals to work. Wolves and later dogs were used as hunting tools. Cattle and fowl were either slaughtered for food or kept for wool, milk and eggs. Horses and …

Balak: The Perennial Critic

July 1, 2012 – 4:16 am | Comments Off on Balak: The Perennial Critic3,732 views
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How to Treat a Critic
There are those who thrive on highlighting other people’s faults. It gives them such pleasure, they can hardly contain themselves. If they can’t find fault they drive themselves incessantly until they find it and failing that, they grow despondent. Mostly these people don’t intend harm, they …

K’doshim: Is Crossbreeding Permitted?

April 29, 2012 – 4:49 am | Comments Off on K’doshim: Is Crossbreeding Permitted?4,257 views
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Crossbreeding
Throughout history farmers and breeders experimented with crossbreeding seeking the most enduring specimen. Despite the popularity of this practice we Jews must ask, is crossbreeding permitted?

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Kedoshim: Is Asceticism Jewish?

April 27, 2011 – 9:06 pm | Comments Off on Kedoshim: Is Asceticism Jewish?2,829 views
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The Contradiction
The great mystic Rabbi Yehudah Lowe, otherwise known as the Maharal, once explained that Matzah, the impoverished bread, comprised of merely flour and water, is a symbol of freedom because those who are truly free are unencumbered. Ordinary bread is slaved to sugar and yeast for flavor and texture. …