DOCSLIB.ORG

Kol Mevaseret 5778

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Kol Mevaseret 5778 קול Kol מבשרת Mevaseret A Compilation of Insights and Analyses of Torah Topics by the students of MICHLELET MEVASERET YERUSHALAYIM Jerusalem, 5778 Editors in Chief: Rochel Gertsberg ● Naama Schwartz ● Micki Wulwick Editorial Staff: Tzivia Appleman ● Rhiannon Chajmovicz ● Shoshana Cohen Ora Damelin ● Zahava Fertig ● Lana Rosenthal ● Shira Sassoon Avigail Sciunnach ● Sarah Spira ● Nechama Tannenbaum Robin Tassler ● Sara Verschleisser ● Rachel Zemble Faculty Advisor: Rabbi Eliezer Lerner © 2018 / 5778 – All rights reserved Printed in Israel מכללת מבשרת ירושלים Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim Rabbi David Katz, Director Mrs. Sharon Isaacson, Asst. Director Mrs. Sarah Dena Katz, Asst. Director Derech Chevron 60 Jerusalem 93513 Tel: (02) 652-7257 / US Tel: (212) 372-7226 Fax: (02) 652-7162 / US Fax: (917)-793-1047 [email protected] U.S. Mailing Address 500 W. Burr Blvd Suite #47 Teaneck, NJ 07666 www.mevaseret.org/mmy HaDaF Typesetting [email protected] CONTENTS Letter from the Editors............................................... 7 Introduction Rabbi David Katz........................................................9 תנ"ך A Tale of Two Sets of Spies Rhiannon Chajmovicz ...............................................15 A Calf and a Covenant … or Two Shoshana Cohen, Rachel Zemble .............................25 Migdal Bavel and the Advancement of Society Rochel Gertsberg.......................................................33 The Nachash: The Crux of all Slander Michal Kaufman................................................... 41 חכמת שלמה: ואזן וחקר תקן משלים הרבה Rachel Kellner...................................................... 47 Savior or Enslaver Sarah Spira ......................................................... 49 Chessed U’Mishpat Ashira Shira Strauss....................................................... 55 Words that Shaped a Nation: The Brachot of Yaakov Avinu and of Moshe Rabbeinu Sara Verschleisser ............................................... 59 שמע בני מוסר אביך ועל תטש תורת אמך The Importance of Parental Advice Shoshana Weintraub ............................................ 77 הלכה The Mitzvah of Settling the Land :מצות ישוב הארץ Shira Cohen......................................................... 85 Kitniyot: Do the Ends Justify the Beans? Ora Damelin ........................................................ 89 Is My Chulent Meat From a Lab? Cultured Meat and Halacha Dania Mann-Wineberg .......................................... 95 Minhag: Lay Authority in Halacha Lana Rosenthal.................................................. 101 Reading Above and Below the Lines: The Significance of Trop in Torah Reading Naama Schwartz................................................ 111 מחשבה The Lonely Men of Faith: Mitnagdim and Hasidim Tzivia Appleman ................................................ 123 Imprisonment According to Torah Tehila Azar ........................................................ 131 Hishtadlut vs. Bitachon Rivka Barnett..................................................... 135 Mishnaic Music Shoshana Cohen................................................ 141 Sorry is Not Enough Shira Kurland .................................................... 151 Mashiach: From the Dead or the Living Temmi Lattin...................................................... 155 Orphans, Widows, and Strangers: Our Obligation to Defend the Defenseless Sarit Perl ........................................................... 159 The Eternal Struggle Between Amalek and Emunah Shira Sassoon.................................................... 163 Finding Your Identity Eliana Schlesinger.............................................. 173 Shalom Aleichem The Song that Brings the Shabbat Table Together Haviva Tirschwell............................................... 179 Faculty “The Life of Souls; the Air of Your Land” A Rav Kook-Influenced Perspective on the Relationship Between the Land of Israel and Olam Haba Rabbi Yosef Bronstein ........................................ 185 Birkat HaTorah Rabbi Jesse Horn............................................... 203 LETTER FROM THE EDITORS ואמר רבי יצחק אם יאמר לך אדם ... לא יגעתי ,The Gemara (Megillah 6b) writes R’ Yitzchak said, If someone says ... ‘I“ .ומצאתי אל תאמן יגעתי ומצאתי תאמן have not worked hard and I have found success,’ do not believe him. If someone says: ‘I have worked hard and I have found success,’ believe him.” The Gemara illustrates a vital concept in Talmud Torah – progress does not come easily or quickly and one cannot expect to exert little effort and find success. Rather, success can only be reached through commitment and perseverance, and if one devotes his efforts to Torah study, he will most definitely find success. Guided by the encouragement of the MMY faculty, students have devoted themselves to Talmud Torah for the past ten months. With the study of Tanach, Halacha, and Hashkafa, the students explored diverse sources and the complexities that accompany them. They not only succeeded in their efforts of Talmud Torah, but have chosen to share their achievements and allow others to gain as well. This compilation of articles is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the MMY students, each one conveying the interests and passions unique to its author. The success of this journal was a lengthy process, involving countless people. The devoted Rabbeim and teachers at MMY have helped each student and encouraged her to thrive and grow in her Torah learning. In particular, we would like to thank Rabbi Lerner; without his constant guidance and efforts, this publication would not have come to fruition. Additionally, we would like to thank all the editors who spent many hours perfecting and reviewing the content; they have been an indispensable part of Kol Mevaseret. Moreover, we are also immensely grateful to all the writers, whose enthusiasm and hard work contributed to the production of Kol Mevaseret 5778. Sincerely, The Kol Mevaseret Editors 5778 INTRODUCTION As this new edition of Kol Mevaseret is going to print, we are reading Sefer Bamidbar, discussing the desert experience. Our students, are For a .אוכלי מן completing their own ‘desert experience,’ similar to the full academic year, Torah learning has been handed to them on a silver platter. Now they are preparing to enter back into a world where they have to “plow for themselves”. It is our prayer that our students, upon their return, become the Torah leaders in their com- munities, campuses and families, and utilize their ‘desert experi- ence’ to build themselves up internally before going out to the wider Jewish world. In the desert, Bnei Yisrael encamp around the Mishkan with a set of three tribes on each of the four sides. In each set, one of the tribes is selected as the flag-bearer and the other two tribes encamp along with them. The language of the Torah in Parshat Bamidbar is quite explicit. The first encampment is “degel machane Yehuda” in the east, and then “v’hachonim alav” are Yissachar and Zevulun. This pat- tern repeats itself in the south where the encampment is called “degel machene Reuven” and “v’hachonim alav” are Shimon and Gad as well as in the north with “degel machane Dan” and “v’hachonim alav” are Asher and Naftali. However, in the west, where we have “degel machane Ephraim,” the Torah describes the tribe of Menashe as merely “v’alav” and not the usual “v’hachonim alav”. This may be what is bothering Rashi when he comments that “alav” is understood by the Targum in the same manner that he translated “alav” in the other three places. The Meshech Chochma notes that the reason for the change is to hint what will happen during the next forty years. Right now, in the count of Parshat Bamidbar, Ephraim is greater in number than Menashe. (Ephraim’s count is 40,500 and Menashe’s is 32,200.) However, later, in Parshat Pinchas, Ephraim’s count is only 32,500 whereas Menashe’s is 52,700! The pasuk’s change to “alav” hints at Menashe's ultimate numerical supremacy. The Netziv picks up on the same textual anomaly. He com- ments that there are two types of leadership – “ruach” (a more spiritual one), and “halichot olam” (a more practical and worldly one). Ephraim was the greater leader in terms of spirituality, whereas Menashe was the greater leader in terms of the practical world. During their miraculous desert experience, Ephraim’s leadership is paramount and he is the flag-bearer. However in Parshat Pinchas, as Bnei Yisrael prepare to enter Eretz Yisrael where they would have to “plow for themselves”, Menashe’s pragmatic leadership will become the more needed trait. Menashe’s role will then become the primary one. He will be “alav”. The Netziv adds that this was already alluded to in the brachot in Parshat Vayechi when Yaakov Avinu “sikel et yadav”. Why didn’t Yaakov simply ask Ephraim and Menashe to switch sides? Why did Yaakov have to go through the trouble of repositioning his hands? The Netziv explains that he wanted Menashe to stay by his right leg, representing the one who would be most “grounded” in terms of halichot olam, while his right hand, representing the ruach, needed to be switched to the head of Ephraim. Our students have spent a year in the “Ephraim Bubble”, the world of ruach, of the Beit Midrash. They have been given their Torah similar to the way Bnei Yisrael received the mahn. What a wonderful experience to have! הבן יקיר לי אפרים אם ילד שעשועים כי מדי דברי בו זכור אזכרנו עוד: (ירמיהו לא:יט) The Ephraim experience will be cherished and remembered fondly. However,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Etzionupdate from Yeshivat Har Etzion
    בסד Summer 5777/2017 etzionUPDATE from Yeshivat Har Etzion Etzion Foundation Dinner 2017 On Wednesday March 29, hundreds of when Racheli delivered words of thanks The dinner culminated with dancing, friends gathered for the annual Etzion and chizuk. All the honorees appeared in bringing together all the members of the Foundation Dinner. The Foundation was a video presentation that also featured Gush community – Ramim and alumni, proud to present the Alumnus of the Year Roshei Yeshiva, Ramim, peers, children parents and children all rejoicing arm in award to Rabbi Jeffrey Kobrin ’92PC and and talmidim. The videos can be viewed at arm. Yair Hindin ‘98 commented, “It‘s this Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin. Simcha and http://haretzion.org/2017-honorees sense of community that always pulses Barbara Hochman, parents of Ayelet ’11MO through the Grand Hyatt during the Gush Rosh Yeshiva Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein and Ariel ’13, were honored with the dinner, this sense of the common bonds we spoke nostalgically and passionately of Parents of the Year award. all share, that keeps me coming back year the early days of his family’s aliyah and after year.” The Dor l’Dor Award was given to the state of the Yeshiva upon their arrival. Rav Danny Rhein his daughter, Describing the present, he noted the near Before the dinner, a reception was held Racheli (Rhein) Schmell ’07MO, whose impossibility of imagining not only the honoring the alumni of ’96 and ’97 on their combined warmth exponentially impacts current success of Gush but also the ever- 20th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, the tone and flavor of both Yeshivat Har growing presence that Migdal Oz has on the students from those years formed Etzion and Migdal Oz.
    [Show full text]
  • THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 2019-20 – HISTORICAL, MEDICAL and HALAKHIC PERSPECTIVES Second Edition Rabbi Prof
    THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RABBI PROF. AVRAHAM STEINBERG, MD THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 2019-20 – HISTORICAL, MEDICAL AND HALAKHIC PERSPECTIVES Second Edition Rabbi Prof. Avraham Steinberg, MD Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Historical Background 3 a. Pandemics in the past b. The Coronavirus pandemic 3. Medical Background 5 4. Specific rulings and Halakhot 7 a. General behavior and the obligation to listen to the government and experts during a plague b. Defining plague c. Prayers, fasts and charity d. Self-endangerment of the healthcare providers – doctors, nurses, lab personnel, technicians e. Self-endangerment for experimental treatment and discovering a vaccine f. Prayer with a minyan, nesiyat kapayim, Torah reading, yeshivot g. Ha'gomel Blessing h. Shabbat and festivals i. Passover j. Sefirat Ha'omer k. Rosh Hashanah l. Yom Kippur m. Purim n. Immersion in the mikvah o. Immersion of utensils p. Visiting the sick q. Circumcision r. Marriage s. Burial t. Mourning 5. Triage in treating coronavirus patients during severe shortage 32 a. Introduction b. Determining triage priority in various situations when there are insufficient resources I am greatly indebted to Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner for the English translation & to Dr. Lazar Friedman for his editorial work. 1 THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RABBI PROF. AVRAHAM STEINBERG, MD c. Halakhic sources on determining lifesaving triage d. Halakhic guidelines on determining priority 6. Miscellaneous 40 7. Conclusion 41 1. Introduction In the modern era, the coronavirus1 pandemic2 has been the most shocking pandemic to the entire world, including experts and scientists, since the Spanish influenza pandemic 100 years ago.3 In recent decades many scientists have arrogantly claimed that in the modern and technologically advanced world there will be no more global pandemics of this sort.
    [Show full text]
  • Richard Hidary
    RICH A R D H I D A R Y CURRICULUM VITAE POSITIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS 2018-2019 Wexner Heritage Program Atlanta, GA Faculty 2018-2019 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Katz Family Fellow, Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies 2016-2017 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Starr Fellow, Center for Jewish Studies 2013-2016 Congregation Shearith Israel New York, NY Distinguished Rabbinic Fellow 2011-2014 The Tikvah Center at NYU New York, NY Affiliate Scholar 2007-2010 Cardozo Law School New York, NY Graduate Fellow in Jewish Law and Interdisciplinary Studies 2000-2004 New York University New York, NY ◼ McCracken Fellowship TEACHING Yeshiva University New York, NY 2014-present Associate Professor of Judaic Studies 2008-2014 Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies Courses in Bible Talmud and Midrash Second Temple Jewish History and Dead Sea Scrolls Jewish Ethics 2002-13, 2016-19 Sephardic Synagogue Brooklyn, NY Educational Director/Rabbi 2003-2008 Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY PHONE (718) 986 - 4664 • E - M A I L [email protected] 457 QUENTIN RD. • BROOKLYN , N Y 1 1223 Adjunct Lecturer, Judaic Studies Contemporary Issues in Jewish Law ◼ Maimonides: Philosopher, Legalist, Physician ◼ Introduction to Talmud; Introduction to Midrash ◼ Deuteronomy; Psalms; Job and the Problem of Evil 2002–2006 New York University New York, NY Instructor & Teaching Assistant ◼ Ancient Israel; Muslim Spain ◼ The Historical Jesus; Early Christianity ◼ Jewish Ethics EDUCATION 2000–2007 New York University New York, NY ◼ Doctorate in Hebrew & Judaic Studies 1999-2000
    [Show full text]
  • Professor Adam S. Ferziger, Ph.D. S.R. Hirsch Chair For
    Professor Adam S. Ferziger, Ph.D. S.R. Hirsch Chair for Research of the Torah with Derekh Erez Movement Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry Bar-Ilan University [email protected] Curriculum Vitae Academic Education 2001 Ph. D. [Summa Cum Laude], Modern Jewish History, Bar-Ilan University Dissertation Advisor: Professor Gershon C. Bacon 1990 M.A., Modern Jewish History, Bernard Revel Graduate School, Yeshiva University Thesis Advisor: Professor Jacob Katz z”l 1990 B.A. [Cum Laude] - Political Science/Jewish History, Yeshiva College, Yeshiva University Advanced Religious Education 1990 Rabbinical Ordination, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University 1987-90 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University (New York and Gruss Insitute, Jerusalem) 1984-6 Yeshiva Program, Yeshiva University 1983-4 Yeshivat Har-Etzion (Gush), Alon Shevut 1982-3 Beit Medrash le-Torah (BMT), Jerusalem Academic Appointments 2017 Arnold/Yaschik Distinguished Visiting Professor, College of Charleston 2015-present S.R. Hirsch Chair for Research of the Torah with Derekh Erez Movement, Faculty of Jewish Studies, Bar-Ilan University 2015-present Senior Associate, Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University of Oxford 1 2013-present Professor Haver, Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry, Bar- Ilan University 2008-13 Senior Lecturer with tenure - Graduate Program in Contemporary Jewry, Bar- Ilan University 2003-08 Lecturer and Gwendolyn & Joseph Straus Teaching Fellow in Jewish Studies, Graduate Program
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Zionism: Tzvi Yehuda Kook on Redemption and the State Raina Weinstein Wednesday, Aug
    Religious Zionism: Tzvi Yehuda Kook on Redemption and the State Raina Weinstein Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 11:00 AM EDT Course Description: In May 1967, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook delivered a fiery address criticizing the modern state of Israel for what he viewed as its founding sin: accepting the Partition Plan and dividing the Land of Israel. “Where is our Hebron?” he cried out. “Where is our Shechem, our Jericho… Have we the right to give up even one grain of the Land of God?” Just three weeks later, the Six Day War broke out, and the Israeli army conquered the biblical heartlands that Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda had mourned—in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights. Hebron, Shechem, and Jericho were returned to Jewish sovereignty. In the aftermath of the war, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda’s words seemed almost prophetic. His spiritual vision laid the foundation for a new generation of religious Zionism and the modern settler movement, and his ideology continues to have profound implications for contemporary Israeli politics. In this session, we will explore Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook’s 1967 speech, his teachings, and his critics— particularly Rabbi Yehuda Amital. Guiding Questions: 1. How does Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook interpret the quotation from Psalm 107: "They have seen the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep"? Why do you think he begins this speech with this scripture? 2. In the section, "They Have Divided My Land," Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook tells two stories about responses to partition. Based on these stories, what do you think is his attitude toward diplomacy and politics is? 1 of 13 tikvahonlineacademy.org/ 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Sinai Upside-Down: the Theological Message of a Midrash
    SINAI UPSIDE-DOWN: THE THEOLOGICAL MESSAGE OF A MIDRASH RAYMOND APPLE The two major lines of Jewish exegesis are peshat – the plain meaning, and derash – the homiletical interpretation. It could be said that peshat is more objective and derash more subjective, but this generalization should not be pressed too far. There is a popular notion that derash is a sort of Jewish Ae- sop's Fables , a collection of legendary material that provides extra drama and color; but it would be a mistake to imagine that the masters of Midrash were mere tellers of tales. In most midrashim there is a message which we can begin to uncover by asking: What idea does the midrashic text want to teach? When we ask this question we find that the Sages of the Midrash were seri- ous philosophers who often used derash to address major problems in theol- ogy and ethics. This paper shows how the exegesis of an ambiguous word in the Bible leads in two different directions, with the contrast between peshat and derash allowing the rabbinic Sages to read important theological content into – or out of – a seemingly innocuous verse. That verse is Exodus 19:17, which speaks about where the Israelites were when the Torah was given. The verse reads: va-yityatzevu be-tahtit ha-har. If we try to imagine the scene, we may visualize a large crowd gathered in open country with the mountain looming in the background, apparently indicating a peshat of they stood at the foot of the mountain . Tahtit is connected with tahat , "under, be- low, beneath." These translations appear to be interchangeable synonyms, 1 and are generally treated as such .
    [Show full text]
  • Vertientes Del Judaismo #3
    CLASES DE JUDAISMO VERTIENTES DEL JUDAISMO #3 Por: Eliyahu BaYonah Director Shalom Haverim Org New York Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • La Ortodoxia moderna comprende un espectro bastante amplio de movimientos, cada extracción toma varias filosofías aunque relacionados distintamente, que en alguna combinación han proporcionado la base para todas las variaciones del movimiento de hoy en día. • En general, la ortodoxia moderna sostiene que la ley judía es normativa y vinculante, y concede al mismo tiempo un valor positivo para la interacción con la sociedad contemporánea. Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • En este punto de vista, el judaísmo ortodoxo puede "ser enriquecido" por su intersección con la modernidad. • Además, "la sociedad moderna crea oportunidades para ser ciudadanos productivos que participan en la obra divina de la transformación del mundo en beneficio de la humanidad". • Al mismo tiempo, con el fin de preservar la integridad de la Halajá, cualquier área de “fuerte inconsistencia y conflicto" entre la Torá y la cultura moderna debe ser evitada. La ortodoxia moderna, además, asigna un papel central al "Pueblo de Israel " Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • La ortodoxia moderna, como una corriente del judaísmo ortodoxo representado por instituciones como el Consejo Nacional para la Juventud Israel, en Estados Unidos, es pro-sionista y por lo tanto da un estatus nacional, así como religioso, de mucha importancia en el Estado de Israel, y sus afiliados que son, por lo general, sionistas en la orientación. • También practica la implicación con Judíos no ortodoxos que se extiende más allá de "extensión (kiruv)" a las relaciones institucionales y la cooperación continua, visto como Torá Umaddá.
    [Show full text]
  • Kehilath Jeshurun Bulletin
    Kehilath Jeshurun Bulletin Volume LXXI Number 5 June 28, 2002 18 Tammuz 5762 DR. NORMAN LAMM ADDRESSES HISTORIC ANNUAL MEETING SAME OFFICERS TO CONTINUE TO LEAD KJ On the eve of his retirement as opportunity to reminisce about his half Rabbi Lamm well in his future President of Yeshiva University, Dr. century in the rabbinate which began endeavors. Although Dr. Lamm Norman Lamm addressed the 130th when he was a rabbinic assistant to maintained a close relationship with Annual Meeting of Congregation Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein here at Rabbi Haskel Lookstein and the Kehilath Jeshurun. His appearance Kehilath Jeshurun in 1952. There were congregation, it was further enhanced was in celebration of the 100th many members of the congregation during the 1990’s when his son-in-law, anniversary of the opening of our Main present who recalled when he served in Rabbi Mark Dratch, also served as a Synagogue which was completed in that capacity. It was an excellent rabbi of the congregation. 1902. Rabbi Lamm took the opportunity for our members to wish (Continued on page 4) ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN SENIORS ARE GRADUATED FROM RAMAZ FORTY EIGHT TO SPEND NEXT YEAR IN ISRAEL OUTSTANDING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RECORD AND HONORS ACHIEVED BY THE SENIOR CLASS At the graduation exercise of the Rabbi Joseph H. HONORS FOR THE SENIOR CLASS Lookstein Upper School on June 19, 114 seniors received We are proud to announce that three members of the their diplomas. Of that number, 48 will be spending next senior class were winners in the National Merit Scholarship year studying at a variety of Torah institutions in Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • Prayer for the State of Israel 166 Prayer for the Welfare of Israel’S Soldiers 168 Hatikvah
    Edited by Rabbi Tuly Weisz The Israel Bible: Numbers First Edition, 2018 Menorah Books An imprint of Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd. POB 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531, USA & POB 4044, Jerusalem 9104001, Israel www.menorahbooks.com The Israel Bible was produced by Israel365 in cooperation with Teach for Israel and is used with permission from Teach for Israel. All rights reserved. The English translation was adapted by Israel365 from the JPS Tanakh. Copyright © 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society. All rights reserved. Cover image: © Seth Aronstam - https://www.setharonstam.com/ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews. The Israel Bible is a holy book that contains the name of God and should be treated with respect. Table of Contents iv Credits v Acknowledgements viii Aleph Bet Chart ix Introduction xv Foreward xviii Blessing Before and After Reading theTorah 19 The Book of Numbers 129 Biographies of The Israel Bible Scholars 131 Bibliography 142 List of Transliterated Words in The Israel Bible 157 Photo Credits 158 Chart of the Hebrew Months and their Holidays 161 Map of Modern-Day Israel and its Neighbors 162 List of Prime Ministers of the State of Israel 163 Prayer for the State of Israel 166 Prayer for the Welfare of Israel’s Soldiers 168 Hatikvah iii Credits
    [Show full text]
  • KHM Academic Jewish Studies
    Volume III, Issue 3 December 11, 2009/24 Kislev 5770 KOL HAMEVASER The Jewish Thought Magazine of the Yeshiva University Student Body Academic Interviews with, and Jewish Studies Articles by: Dr. David Berger, R. Dr. Richard Hidary, R. Dr. Joshua Berman, and Dr. Shawn-Zelig Aster p. 6, 8, 9, and 13 Jewish Responses to Wellhausen’s Docu- mentary Hypothesis AJ Berkovitz, p. 14 Tsiluta ke-Yoma de-Is- tana: Creating Clarity in the Beit Midrash Ilana Gadish, p. 18 Bible Study: Interpre- tation and Experience Ori Kanefsky, p. 19 Religious Authenticity and Historical Con- sciousness Eli Putterman on p. 20 Kol Hamevaser Contents Kol Hamevaser Volume III, Issue 3 The Student Thought Magazine of the Yeshiva December 11, 2009 24 Kislev 5770 University Student body Editorial Shlomo Zuckier 3 Academic Jewish Studies: Benefits and Staff Dangers Editors-in-Chief Letter-to-the-Editor Sarit Bendavid Shaul Seidler-Feller Mordechai Shichtman 5 Letter-to-the-Editors Associate Editor Academic Jewish Studies Shlomo Zuckier Staff 6 An Interview with Dr. David Berger Layout Editor Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary 8 Traditional versus Academic Talmud Menachem Spira Study: “Hilkhakh Nimrinhu le-Tarvaihu” Editor Emeritus Shlomo Zuckier 9 An Interview with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Alex Ozar Berman Staff Writers Staff 13 An Interview with Dr. Shawn-Zelig Aster Yoni Brander Jake Friedman Abraham Jacob Berkovitz 14 Jewish Responses to Wellhausen’s Doc- Ilana Gadish umentary Hypothesis Nicole Grubner Nate Jaret Ilana Gadish 18 Tsiluta ke-Yoma de-Istana: Creating Clar- Ori Kanefsky ity in the Beit Midrash Alex Luxenberg Emmanuel Sanders Ori Kanefsky 19 Bible Study: Interpretation and Experi- Yossi Steinberger ence Jonathan Ziring Eli Putterman 20 Religious Authenticity and Historical Copy Editor Consciousness Benjamin Abramowitz Dovid Halpern 23 Not by Day and Not by Night: Jewish Webmaster Philosophy’s Place Reexamined Ben Kandel General Jewish Thought Cover Design Yehezkel Carl Nathaniel Jaret 24 Reality Check?: A Response to Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Surviving Surviving,” Prepared As a Class Assignment by HAFTR Eighth Grader Joe Klein
    The Jewish Star Independent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island VOL. 8, NO. 25 JUNE 19, 2009 | 27 SIVAN 5769 www.thejewishstar.com GET OUTTA TOWN INWOOD CAMPUS A RELIGIOUS EXCHANGE OU fair highlights Jewish communities Bnot Shulamith gains zoning approval The Kosher Bookworm Page 3 Page 6 Page 8 IN MY VIEW Tuition by Iran is not a the nickel democracy Internet toolbar will help fund Jewish education BY MICAH D. HALPERN BY YAFFI SPODEK mericans have been duped, An easy opportunity to help your school raise hoodwinked by mainstream money may be only a mouse-click away thanks to a new media, fed false hope and pro- fundraising venture from the Orthodox Union. A vided with erroneous informa- For every single click on the OU’s Education Fund tion. Toolbar — scheduled to launch in the next few weeks I need to set the record straight. — a corporate sponsor will donate five cents to the OU Iran is not a democracy. Education Fund, which will be distributed to yeshivot Because the Iranians use the and day schools around the coun- terms and adopt the trappings of try. democracy, does not make it a democ- “Our goal is to send the tool- racy. Because the American media bar to every Jewish home in would like Iran to be a democracy, America,” said Rabbi Saul Zucker, does not make it a democracy. Because director of the OU’s recently the White House developed department of day school and educational services. wishes for a Image courtesy Joe Klein “The toolbar gets loaded onto democratically Yetta, a Holocaust survivor briefly overcome with grief, during an interview in the documentary run Iran, does your desktop and it costs the user “Surviving Surviving,” prepared as a class assignment by HAFTR eighth grader Joe Klein.
    [Show full text]
  • Halacha, Ethics & Aesthetics
    Halacha, Ethics and Aesthetics 1 Halacha, Ethics and Aesthetics 1 This article is dedicated to my mother, Becky Navon Rabbi Mois Navon - Adjunct Instructor Gellmann, who instilled in me the I. I NTRODUCTION values of ethics and aesthetics. I would Hama bar R. Hanina asked, “What means the verse: ‘You shall walk also like to acknowl- R. (teilchu) after the Lord your God’? Is it possible for a human being edge my wife Deena for her critique of this to walk after the Shechina; for has it not been said, ‘For the Lord thy God paper. is a devouring fire’? Rather [the verse means] that one is to walk after the 2 This statement attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He. As He clothes the naked... so should not be mis- too you clothe the naked. The Holy One, blessed be He visited the sick... so understood to imply too you visit the sick. The Holy One, blessed be He comforted mourners... that halacha is some self-serving system of so too you comfort the mourner. The Holy One, blessed be He buried the improvement, for the dead... so too you bury the dead. (Sotah 14a) ultimate achievement of transcendence To walk after God then is to walk in His ethical ways. Indeed Judaism provides is obtained only by following halacha a guide for one to “walk” after God known by the same root word as “walk” with hok-like accep- – Halacha. Halacha is the legal body of thought which seeks to guide man’s tance – lishma – for its own sake.
    [Show full text]