'A Shmita Manifesto'
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Should Bakeries Which Are Open on Shabbat Be Supervised? a Response to the Rabinowitz-Weisberg Opinion RABBI HOWARD HANDLER
Should Bakeries Which are Open on Shabbat Be Supervised? A Response to the Rabinowitz-Weisberg Opinion RABBI HOWARD HANDLER This paper was submitted as a response to the responsum written by Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz and Ms. Dvora Weisberg entitled "Rabbinic Supervision of Jewish Owned Businesses Operating on Shabbat" which was adopted by the CJLS on February 26, 1986. Should rabbis offer rabbinic supervision to bakeries which are open on Shabbat? i1 ~, '(l) l'\ (1) The food itself is indeed kosher after Shabbat, once the time required to prepare it has elapsed. 1 The halakhah is according to Rabbi Yehudah and not according to the Mishnah which is Rabbi Meir's opinion. (2) While a Jew who does not observe all the mitzvot is in some instances deemed trustworthy, this is never the case regarding someone who flagrantly disregards the laws of Shabbat, especially for personal profit. Maimonides specifically excludes such a person's trustworthiness regarding his own actions.2 Moreover in the case of n:nv 77n~ (a violator of Shabbat) Maimonides explicitly rejects his trustworthiness. 3 No support can be brought from Moshe Feinstein who concludes, "even if the proprietor closes his store on Shabbat, [since it is known to all that he does not observe Shabbat], we assume he only wants to impress other observant Jews so they will buy from him."4 Previously in the same responsum R. Feinstein emphasizes that even if the person in The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly provides guidance in matters of halakhah for the Conservative movement. -
The Talmud's Two Jubilees and Their Relevance to the Date of the Exodus
Westminster Theological Journal 68 (2006): 71-83 The Talmud’s Two Jubilees and Their Relevance to the Date of the Exodus The Babylonian Talmud mentions two, and only two, occasions for the observance of a Jubilee. The question of whether there actually were Jubilees at the times specified, or whether these passages reflect a later projection of ideas back into a previous age, is a matter of some importance. It bears on the question of when Leviticus was written, because many scholars date the composition of Leviticus, particularly of the so-called “H” or Holiness Code that established the Jubilee and Sabbatical years (Lev 17–26), to exilic or post-exilic times. An exilic or post-exilic date for the Holiness Code would be difficult to maintain if it could be shown that Sabbatical years or Jubilee years were observed before the exile, since the observation of such rituals in the ancient Near East always presupposes their written codification. One way to evaluate whether the two Jubilees mentioned in the Talmud were genuine historical events is to examine the dates assigned to them. The two passages are in b. ‘Arak. 12a, mentioning a Jubilee in the time of Ezekiel, and in b. Meg. 14b, mentioning a Jubilee in the time of Josiah. The ‘Arakin passage is as follows: “Is it not written: In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten. Now which is the year the beginning of which falls on the tenth of Tishri? Say: This is the jubilee year.” 1 The argument the Talmud presents here is that the verse quoted (Ezek 40:1) gave the day as both “the beginning of the year” (Rosh HaShanah or New Year’s Day) and also as the tenth of the month. -
SHMITA YEAR 5782 Returning to the Home of Our Soul Register Here!
SHMITA YEAR 5782 Returning to the Home of Our Soul As we gather in person and on-line we will enter the New Jewish Year together. 5782 is a Shmita year. Every seven years Shmita invites us to examine what in our lives needs to be reassessed and released. The Shmita year also brings us into a deep connection with earth. It is a call to ecological, social and economic justice. Who have we become during these pandemic times? Each of us have had discoveries and losses, breakthroughs and disappointments, moments of isolation and meaningful connections. Sounding the shofar we will return to each other and begin again. Register here! ~ Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit and Rabbi Yael Levy ~ WHETHER ON LINE OR IN SANCTUARY, WE WILL CELEBRATE 5782 TOGETHER! We are excited to welcome 5782 with our Mishkan friends and family. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines established by the Center For Disease Control (CDC) and the City of Philadelphia Department of Health, we will offer many of our High Holiday services, workshops and other programming both in-person in our 3rd floor sanctuary and via Zoom by prior registration only for all services. Volunteers will be overseeing the in-person protocols as well as on-line access. For Members- please click here for volunteer opportunities to help in needed areas. ● As part of registration all participants agree to the Mishkan Shalom Covenant for In-Person participation for up to 100 members and guests, (see covenant on web page and registration) in addition to our staff and volunteers, which includes: ○ Masks will be required of everyone, except for leaders when actively leading up front. -
A USER's MANUAL Part 1: How Is Halakhah Organized?
TORAHLEADERSHIP.ORG RABBI ARYEH KLAPPER HALAKHAH: A USER’S MANUAL Part 1: How is Halakhah Organized? I. How is Halakhah Organized? 4 case studies a. Mishnah Berakhot 1:1, and gemara thereupon b. Support of the poor Peiah, Bava Batra, Matnot Aniyyim, Yoreh Deah) c. Conversion ?, Yevamot, Issurei Biah, Yoreh Deah) d. Mourning Moed Qattan, Shoftim, Yoreh Deiah) Mishnah Berakhot 1:1 From what time may one recite the Shema in the evening? From the hour that the kohanim enter to eat their terumah Until the end of the first watch, in the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer. The Sages say: Until midnight. Rabban Gamliel says: Until morning. It happened that his sons came from a wedding feast. They said to him: We have not yet recited the Shema. He said to them: If it has not yet morned, you are obligated to recite it. Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 2a What is the context of the Mishnah’s opening “From when”? Also, why does it teach about the evening first, rather than about the morning? The context is Scripture saying “when you lie down and when you arise” (Devarim 6:7, 11:9). what the Mishnah intends is: “The time of the Shema of lying-down – when is it?” Alternatively: The context is Creation, as Scripture writes “There was evening and there was morning”. Mishnah Berakhot 1:1 (continued) Not only this – rather, everything about which the Sages say until midnight – their mitzvah is until morning. The burning of fats and organs – their mitzvah is until morning. All sacrifices that must be eaten in a day – their mitzvah is until morning. -
Zeraim Tractates Terumot and Ma'serot
THE JERUSALEM TALMUD FIRST ORDER: ZERAIM TRACTATES TERUMOT AND MA'SEROT w DE G STUDIA JUDAICA FORSCHUNGEN ZUR WISSENSCHAFT DES JUDENTUMS HERAUSGEGEBEN VON E. L. EHRLICH BAND XXI WALTER DE GRUYTER · BERLIN · NEW YORK 2002 THE JERUSALEM TALMUD Ή^ίτ τΐίΛη FIRST ORDER: ZERAIM Π',ΙΓΙΪ Π0 TRACTATES TERUMOT AND MA'SEROT ΓτηελΡΏΐ niQnn rnooü EDITION, TRANSLATION, AND COMMENTARY BY HEINRICH W. GUGGENHEIMER WALTER DE GRUYTER · BERLIN · NEW YORK 2002 Die freie Verfügbarkeit der E-Book-Ausgabe dieser Publikation wurde ermöglicht durch den Fachinformationsdienst Jüdische Studien an der Universitätsbibliothek J. C. Senckenberg Frankfurt am Main und 18 wissenschaftliche Bibliotheken, die die Open-Access-Transformation in den Jüdischen Studien unterstützen. ISBN 978-3-11-017436-6 ISBN Paperback 978-3-11-068128-4 ISBN 978-3-11-067718-8 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-090846-6 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-067726-3 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-067730-0 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. For This work is licensed under the Creativedetails go Commons to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Attribution 4.0 International Licence. For details go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Das E-Book ist als Open-Access-Publikation verfügbar über www.degruyter.com, Library of Congresshttps://www.doabooks.org Control Number: 2020942816und https://www.oapen.org 2020909307 Bibliographic informationLibrary published of Congress by the Control Deutsche Number: Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek DeutscheThe Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data detailedare available bibliographic on the data Internet are available at http://dnb.dnb.de. -
The Laws of Shabbat
Shabbat: The Jewish Day of Rest, Rules & Cholent Meaningful Jewish Living January 9, 2020 Rabbi Elie Weinstock I) The beauty of Shabbat & its essential function 1. Ramban (Nachmanides) – Shemot 20:8 It is a mitzvah to constantly remember Shabbat each and every day so that we do not forget it nor mix it up with any other day. Through its remembrance we shall always be conscious of the act of Creation, at all times, and acknowledge that the world has a Creator . This is a central foundation in belief in God. 2. The Shabbat, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, NCSY, NY, 1974, p. 12 a – (אומן) It comes from the same root as uman .(אמונה) The Hebrew word for faith is emunah craftsman. Faith cannot be separated from action. But, by what act in particular do we demonstrate our belief in God as Creator? The one ritual act that does this is the observance of the Shabbat. II) Zachor v’shamor – Remember and Safeguard – Two sides of the same coin שמות כ:ח - זָכֹוראֶ ת יֹום הַשַבָתלְקַדְ ׁשֹו... Exodus 20:8 Remember the day of Shabbat to make it holy. Deuteronomy 5:12 דברים ה:יב - ׁשָמֹוראֶ ת יֹום הַשַבָתלְקַדְ ׁשֹו... Safeguard the day of Shabbat to make it holy. III) The Soul of the Day 1. Talmud Beitzah 16a Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said, “The Holy One, Blessed be He, gave man an additional soul on the eve of Shabbat, and at the end of Shabbat He takes it back.” 2 Rashi “An additional soul” – a greater ability for rest and joy, and the added capacity to eat and drink more. -
Millennium, Jubilee and Human History Under God for Jews in the Middle Ages Rabbi Asher Finkel, Ph.D., Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University From the SelectedWorks of Rabbi Asher Finkel, Ph.D. 2003 Millennium, Jubilee and Human History under God for Jews in the Middle Ages Rabbi Asher Finkel, Ph.D., Seton Hall University This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-NC-ND International License. Available at: https://works.bepress.com/asher_finkel/24/ Millennium, Jubilee and Human History under God for Jews in the Middle Ages Asher Finkel Jewish-Christian Studies Graduate Program Department of Religion Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ This article was published in Ich bin ein Hebraer: Gedenken an Otto Michel (1903 - 1993), edited by Helgo Lindner, 312-326. Tübingen: Mohr, 2003. MILLENNIUM, JUBILEE AND HUMAN HISTORY UNDER GOD FOR JEWS IN THE MIDDLE AGES Asher Finkel, Ph.D. The year 1240 is the beginning of the sixth millenium in the Jewish calendar. This year witnessed the Mongol invasion from the East, defeating the Germans and Poles, as well as the year that saw the new ascendancy of the Islamic power. The turn of events was perceived by Nachmanides as the appearance of the "fearsome and terrible beast" in Daniel's vision (Chapter 7) that preceded the coming of the Son of Man, the messianic figure in Jewish apocalypticism. Nachmanides1 portrays the Islamic empire as a "powerful kingdom that is closer to the truth than the former ones," referring to the other theriomorphic empires in Daniel's prophecy. Islam was perceived by Spanish Jewry to be a monotheistic faith, with emphasis on God's unity. Jews faced both Muslims and Christians on the Iberian peninsula, and they were also aware of the distinction between them. -
JUBILEE SHABBAT a Day of Prayer, Worship, and Study Leading to Action to End the Cycle of Poverty Caused by International Debt
A Resource for Your Synagogue or Jewish Faith Community I give you my smile. Photo by Daniela Hartmann JUBILEE SHABBAT A Day of Prayer, Worship, and Study Leading to Action to End the Cycle of Poverty Caused by International Debt 1 Contents SECTION 1 Introductory Materials A Letter of Welcome About Jubilee USA Minute for Mission Prayer SECTION 2 Dvar Torah and Discussion Guide Connection between Shemita, Yovel, and Har Sinai Equality and Freedom Beyond the Physical Security in the Land, Exile, Reward and Punishment Poverty and Debt SECTION 3 Additional Resources Call for a Sabbath Year to Repair a Broken World About Global Sabbath Invitation to become a Jubilee Congregations 2 A Jewish Worship & Action Resource for your Faith Community Dear Friends, Thank you for your interest in participating in Jubilee Shabbat, a national day of worship, study, and reflection leading to advocacy. Jubilee Shabbat has a special meaning for us in the Jewish world. As you know, the year of Jubilee proclaimed in the Torah took place every fifty years. It was a time when all debts were cancelled, land was returned, and people were freed. The Jubilee vision continues to serve as a powerful way for people of faith and conscience today to promote economic and social justice in our broken world. The spirit of Jubilee needs to be taken into the politics and economics of every nation on earth, including our own. As a part of Jubilee Shabbat, communities nationwide will examine the roots of Jubilee in the Torah as we read Parsha Behar Bechukotai and explore how we as Jews can band together to break the chains of debt and poverty and transform our world. -
Tikkun Olam -- Repairing the World
Sat 12 May 2018 / 27 Iyyar 5778 B”H Dr Maurice M. Mizrahi Congregation Adat Reyim Lunch and Learn Tikkun Olam -- Repairing the World Introduction the repair of the world” -- making the world a -- תיקון עולם -- Tikkun ‘olam“ better place. -Very popular concept since 1980s in non-traditional Jewish circles, in the sense of social action, espousing progressive causes, encouraging political correctness, etc. -Is it the mission of Judaism, though? What does it really mean? Five meanings have surfaced in the evolution of Judaism: 1-Going beyond the law to prevent undesirable consequences Origin of term is in Mishnah. Rabbis would render rulings “Mip'nei tikkun ha-‘olam -- for the sake of the repair of the world”. Rulings are not commanded by Torah, go beyond strict commandments, but are deemed necessary to keep order in the world. [Gittin 32a ff; Bava Metzia 83a, 14b; Chagigah 2b; Ketubot 52a-b, 56b] Example 1: The half-slave A man dies and leaves a slave to his two sons. One sets him free, the other does not. -Bet Hillel rules that the slave must work for his master half the time, and is free the other half. -Bet Shammai disagrees, because then the slave then cannot marry and procreate (can’t marry a free woman and can’t marry a slave woman): [Bet Shammai said: And if you say] he should be idle [and not marry], isn’t it [true that] the world was created only for procreation, as it says [in Isaiah]: 1 [God] did not create [the world] to be a waste. -
The Gender of Shabbat
The Gender of Shabbat Aryeh Cohen Introduction “Women are like men in regards to Shabbat …”1 There are several specific ways in which Shabbat itself, the day, not the tractate, is gendered. Shabbat is called a “bride” (bShab 119a). At the onset of Shabbat, the sunset on Friday evening, the Bavli relates that sages would go out to greet the bride, Shabbat the Queen. Shabbat is “brought in” on command of the man of the house. He interro- gates the woman: “have you tithed?” “Have you made an eruv?” Upon receiving the correct answers he commands: “Light the candles,” (mShab 2:7).2 The Mishnah distinguishes between what a man is allowed to wear out of the house on Shabbat and what a woman is allowed to wear out of the house on Shabbat. The discussions center on jewelry and other “accessories” for a woman and body armor and weapons for a man (mShab 6:1-3). The prohibitions serve to construct the masculine and the feminine.3 However, I want to look elsewhere. mShabbat starts with distinguishing be- tween inside and outside. This should be familiar terrain for feminist theory. However, when we look at mShab 1:1, there is no distinction drawn between a man and a woman. In the complicated choreography of transgression illustrated in this text, it is the house-owning man who inhabits the inside and the poor man who stands outside. יציאות השבת שתים שהן ארבע בפנים, ושתים שהן ארבע בחוץ. כיצד? העני עומד בחוץ ובעל הבית בפנים. פשט העני את ידו לפנים ונתן לתוך ידו של בעל הבית, או שנטל מתוכה והוציא, העני חייב ובעל הבית פטור. -
Teacher's Guide & Student Worksheets
Teacher's Guide & Student Worksheets An interdisciplinary curriculum that weaves together Jewish tradition and contemporary food issues www.hazon.org/jfen Hazon works to create healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond. Teachers Guide and Student Worksheets www.hazon.org/jfen Authors: Judith Belasco, Lisa Sjostrom Contributing Author: Ronit Ziv-Zeiger, Jenna Levy Design Work: Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz, Lisa Kaplan, Rachel Chetrit Curriculum Advisors: Mick Fine, Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield, Elisheva Urbas, Molly Weingrod, David Franklin, Natasha Aronson Educational Partnerships & Outreach Advisor: Elena Sigman Min Ha’Aretz Advisory Board: Judith Belasco, Cheryl Cook, Rachel Rosenfield, Nigel Savage, Elena Sigman, Elisheva Urbas, Molly Weingrod Special thanks to: Gayle Adler and educators at Beit Rabban, Mick Fine, Benjamin Mann, & Dr. Steven Lorch at Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan for their extensive work to develop the Min Ha’Aretz curriculum Hazon Min Ha’Aretz Family Education Initiative Staff Judith Belasco, Director of Food Programs, [email protected] Daniel Infeld, Food Progams Fellow, [email protected] Hazon | 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 | 212 644 2332 | fax: 212 868 7933 www.hazon.org | www.jcarrot.org – “Best New Blog” in the 2007 Jewish & Israeli Blog Awards Copyright © 2010 by Hazon. All rights reserved. Hazon works to create healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond. “The Torah is a commentary on the world, and the world is a commentary on the Torah…” Cover photos courtesy -
The Contemporary Jewish Legal Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Conflict with Halakha
t HaRofei LeShvurei Leiv: The Contemporary Jewish Legal Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Conflict with Halakha Senior Honors Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Undergraduate Program in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Prof. Reuven Kimelman, Advisor Prof. Zvi Zohar, Advisor In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Ezra Cohen December 2018 Accepted with Highest Honors Copyright by Ezra Cohen Committee Members Name: Prof. Reuven Kimelman Signature: ______________________ Name: Prof. Lynn Kaye Signature: ______________________ Name: Prof. Zvi Zohar Signature: ______________________ Table of Contents A Brief Word & Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………... iii Chapter I: Setting the Stage………………………………………………………………………. 1 a. Why This Thesis is Important Right Now………………………………………... 1 b. Defining Key Terms……………………………………………………………… 4 i. Defining Depression……………………………………………………… 5 ii. Defining Halakha…………………………………………………………. 9 c. A Short History of Depression in Halakhic Literature …………………………. 12 Chapter II: The Contemporary Legal Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Conflict with Halakha…………………………………………………………………………………………. 19 d. Depression & Music Therapy…………………………………………………… 19 e. Depression & Shabbat/Holidays………………………………………………… 28 f. Depression & Abortion…………………………………………………………. 38 g. Depression & Contraception……………………………………………………. 47 h. Depression & Romantic Relationships…………………………………………. 56 i. Depression & Prayer……………………………………………………………. 70 j. Depression &