Bible
« Previous EntriesMore on Pope Benedict XVI’s Historical Visit to Israel
Monday, May 11th, 2009Earlier we saw how a Rabbi Wolpe conducted himself in a manner that desecrates God’s Name, here is a different kind of response that reflects the best values of our faith and people that appeared today in the JPost written by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen:
“On the occasion of your visit to Israel I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, our most honorable guest, Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives on the altar inside the International Stadium of Amman to celebrate a Holy Mass on Sunday.
I pray that you will continue the work begun by your predecessors, John XXIII and John Paul II, and express your friendship for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
I see in your visit to the Holy Land a declaration that you intend to continue a policy and doctrine that refers to my people as “Our Older Brothers” and “God’s Chosen People,” with whom He entered into an everlasting covenant.
We deeply appreciate this declaration. There is a long, hard and painful history of the relationship between our people, our faith, and the Catholic Church leadership and followers - a history of blood and tears. It is difficult to speak of this relationship without recalling the centuries of persecution of Jews by the Church.
But a new era was ushered in with the cancellation of the replacement theory. In the Second Vatican Council and the Nostra Aetate document, it was made clear that no efforts would be made by the Catholic Church to convert Jews. Rather, the Jewish people should continue the faith of its forefathers as expressed in the Bible and rabbinic literature.
Marvin Wilson’s Foreword to the Birth and Rebirth through Genesis: The Timeless Theological Conversation
Sunday, May 10th, 2009It is a personal delight to write this Foreword to Birth and Rebirth through Genesis. I have had the pleasure of knowing Rabbi Dr. Michael Samuel for more than a decade. During this time we have spent dozens of hours discussing Torah together. In particular, I have greatly enjoyed my many conversations with Rabbi Samuel over his manuscript as he was finalizing his commentary and completing his edits. These interactions were always respectful as each would listen to the point being raised by the other. For me, a Christian professor of Hebrew Bible for more than four decades, each discussion with Rabbi Samuel proved stimulating, enlightening and very enriching. Personally, I became invigorated through these discussions as we would exchange exegetical comments, examine parallel passages, and compare and contrast classic and contemporary perspectives on the Torah.
One of the strengths of this commentary is the way it handles difficult and theologically diffuse passages. On most controversial passages, Rabbi Samuel presents alternative ways of understanding the text, thus allowing the reader to evaluate options and choose. In our personal discussions over the manuscript, our mutual respect for each other as well as our joint high regard for the text of Scripture always made these discussions very worthwhile and enjoyable learning experiences to me, as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17).
Prof. Warren Zev Harvey endorses the new Genesis commentary
Friday, May 8th, 2009A fascinating, learned, and wide-ranging commentary that creatively blends the insights of ancients, medievals, moderns, and post-moderns.
Prof. Warren Zev Harvey, [Chair, Department of Jewish Thought], The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
What was wrong with Cain’s sacrifice?
Friday, May 1st, 2009A reader may wonder: What was wrong with Cain’s sacrifice?
Professor Robert Alter writes that the biblical narrator used several techniques to convey meaning, e.g., statements by the anonymous narrator, by God, by heroes or heroines, by verbal clues, by juxtaposition of material, by characterization, and by effects of actions. Applying [...]
Maimonides’s View on Sacrifices
Friday, May 1st, 2009Despite some ambivalence Maimonides felt about the institution of animal sacrifices, the great Jewish philosopher argues that animal sacrifice can reflect a noble impulse that pushes one to give one’s very best in areas that go far beyond the cultic sector.
For example, Maimonides considers Abel’s sacrifice as a paradigm for all types of [...]
The Religious Politics of Swine Flu
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009Government discussions come and go; often people seldom care what is being discussed; political channels like C-Span are not known for their high ratings. However, in Israel, government discussions at the Knesset are often the kind of material that a Jay Leno or a Saturday Night Live or Mad T.V. comedy writing team would definitely consider using as a part of their programming. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
The defacto Health Minister, MK Rabbi Yakov Litzman, went on public record to say that the “Swine Flu” would be from here on in referred to as “Mexico Flu,” as pork is non-kosher and considered unclean under Jewish law. Was he being serious? Of course! We need not look at Saudi Arabia or Iran for religious pontifical statements—all we need to do is look in our very own backyard!
Who did Jacob really wrestle with in the Bible?
Sunday, March 29th, 2009Q. I’m confused about who wrestled with Jacob the night before he was to meet with his brother Esau. My NIV bible states it was GOD himself. My Chumash (Sages commentary) states it may have been Satan that wrestled with Jacob. If it was Satan why did he give Jacob the name Israel and why would Jacob ask Satan to bless him? If it was GOD, what was the purpose for the confrontation?
Bk. Reviews on: The Lord is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God
Saturday, March 28th, 2009From Amazon.com
You can buy this book for practically pennies of the original price!!
Challenging, spiritually healing work!,
January 21, 2009
By
loves life (NC
Using the shepherd imagery of Psalm 23, Michael Samuel powerfully depicts God as a shepherd who constantly cares for His sheep. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of A Caring God awoke in me afresh [...]
Why are certain animals “Clean and Unclean”?
Saturday, March 28th, 2009Q. We just started reading the book of Leviticus, and I was wondering: What are the criteria of “Clean and Unclean” certain animals. I would like to know more about the historical background of the dietary laws
A. The term “clean” and “unclean” are simply figures of speech used to describe what is considered to be an acceptable type of sacrifice for the altar.
In historical terms, since the ancient Israelites were a pastoral people, it was only natural they would use various flock animals as their offerings. That, in my honest opinion, seems to be the simplest explanation, but there are certain wild animals that are “clean” in so far as they may be eaten, but are, nevertheless, not to be brought to the altar for ritual sacrifice. The wild ox or the giraffe are obvious and well-known examples. Some commentaries point out the reason for these animals are not to be brought to the altar was due to practical considerations; these creatures are not easily found like the flock animals are.
Was Jesus actually married?
Thursday, March 26th, 2009Question: After reading the Da Vinci Codes, I began to wonder: Was Jesus actually married? Was a rabbi of that era supposed to be married?
Answer: To begin with, there was no official office of the rabbinate in the first century; generally speaking the epithet “rabbi” was an honorific title. Oftentimes, a wise person was called a “Chacham” (a Sage), or “Abba” since a spiritual teacher was considered to be like one who had given birth to a child or a disciple.
Jews in the first century generally got married at a fairly young age so that they could fulfill the precept of raising a family. One rabbinic aphorism attributed to Ben Azzai (ca. 2nd century) reads: “Whosoever abstains from the precept of procreation is considered as if he shed blood” (T.B. Yebamoth 63b). Would one expect an aspiring leader to be married? Not all the rabbis agree on this issue.
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