Pluralism From the Bible to Israel

Pluralism From the Bible to Israel

Jul 31, 2015 By Alex Sinclair | Commentary | Va'et-hannan

Shamor vezakhor bedibur ehad鈥 (鈥渒eep鈥 and 鈥渞emember鈥 in one utterance), we sing in Lekhah Dodi (a phrase originally found in the Talmud, BT Shevuot 20b), because The Ten Commandments were given twice, once telling us to 鈥渞emember鈥 shabbat, and once, in this week鈥檚 parashah, telling us to 鈥渒eep鈥 it.

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The Land of Sojourning

The Land of Sojourning

Nov 19, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayeshev

After the relative insecurity and turbulence of Jacob鈥檚 life (masquerading as his brother Esau, taking flight to Laban鈥檚 home, becoming the victim of deception vis-脿-vis a wife and his wages, and the wrestling match of last week), Parashat Vayeshev opens with the hope of the patriarch transitioning into a calmer stage of life.

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Mastery = Harmony

Mastery = Harmony

Sep 22, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Bereishit

This coming Shabbat, we return to the beginning of Torah with Parashat Bereishit.

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Gratitude for the Land

Gratitude for the Land

Jul 24, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Eikev

Parashat Eikev is centered on the Land of Israel.

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Entering the Promised Land

Entering the Promised Land

Oct 1, 2011 By Ofra Arieli Backenroth | Commentary | Ha'azinu

What does it mean to be a leader who, for 40 long years, led the people of Israel in the desert, providing for all their needs, and, in the end, was forbidden to enter the Promised Land?

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The Universal and Particular Nature of Creation

The Universal and Particular Nature of Creation

Oct 22, 2011 By Andrew Shugerman | Commentary | Bereishit

Shortly after Rosh Hashanah this year, Jewish extremists torched a mosque in an Arab-Israeli village in the Galilee, damaging the building and destroying its holy books. Two days later, a rabbinic statement condemning this desecration of a house of worship on Israeli soil garnered the signatures of more than a thousand rabbis of all denominations within 36 hours of the document’s publication. One of my former 91快播 classmates, however, explained with great disappointment why he did not add his name to this effort.

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Warfare in the 21st Century: 5 Questions with General Norton A. Schwartz

Warfare in the 21st Century: 5 Questions with General Norton A. Schwartz

Feb 4, 2013

Has the fundamental nature of war changed? Should Jewish values play in how and when we engage in conflict? General Norton A. Schwartz discusses this regarding warfare in the 21st century.

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Waters of Uncertainty

Waters of Uncertainty

Aug 15, 2014 By Alisa Braun | Commentary | Eikev

鈥淚f it doesn鈥檛 rain, we don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen,鈥 commented a NASA water-cycle scientist recently on the drought that has been devastating California.

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