DOCSLIB.ORG

Studying Gemara in Broad-Based Depth ,Four

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Studying Gemara in Broad-Based Depth ,Four Review of Mada Toratekha: Studying G emara in Broad-based Depth Review of Mada Toratekha Rav Yehuda Zoldan: Studying Gemara in Broad-based Depth ר’ יהודה ברנדס מדע תורתך מסכת ברכות, מכללת הרצוג, אלון שבות תשעט The Following post is a short review on a new work from Rabbi Professor Yehuda Brandes on Berakhot. For another recent article of RabbiBrandes about Learning Gemara see this issue of Hakirah. For a sample chapter of this new work or to purchase this work email [email protected] Over the years, a variety of different styles and approaches have been developed and applied by people who devote themselves to the study of Gemara in a serious manner. Popular genres include: iyun, pilpul, emphasis on the halakhic outcome, ethical and value-based insights, academic studies, linguistic content and literary structures, historical aspects and Talmudic realia, among others. Few individuals can successfully apply all – or even most – of the styles in their own learning, as it would require the ability to understand and master different approaches and “languages” of learning. Most people who sit down to learn and teach Gemara look at each issue on its own, using the approach with which they are most comfortable. They comment and suggest novel approaches on one specific matter or another, noting an interesting ruling of Maimonides or of one of the other commentaries on the issue, and so forth. In the commentaries of the aharonim (later commentaries), even after analyzing a topic in the Gemara and delving into its many details, we almost never find the presentation of a broad perspective containing insights that reflect on our place in the contemporary world. Rabbi Professor Yehuda Brandes, who serves today as head of Herzog College in Alon Shvut, is one of the few individuals who is conversant in the almost all of the abovementioned areas. He has succeeded in weaving all of this together in an impressive whole in his newly published book Mada Toratekha on Tractate Berakhot, the tractate that is currently being studied in the new daf yomi cycle. His yeshiva background – at Yeshivat Netiv Meir and Yeshivat HaKotel – the academic track in the Talmud that he has pursued, his rich experience as a high school teacher and lecturer in academic settings and in his community, his experience with different types of learners of different ages, his personal skills including an impressive ability to analyze different “languages” in depth, and the broad perspective that he offers, create a new and unique mix that is manifest in the book. [A previous book in this series, on Tractate Ketubot, was published in 2007.] There are 23 presentations in the book, each of which deals with topics appearing in Tractate Berakhot. Each one of the presentations contains material from the Jerusalem Talmud and from Midrash Halakha, together with the approaches of rishonim and aharonim (early and later commentaries), classic Yeshiva-style exegesis, references in footnotes to academic research, together with Hassidic and theological works that relate to the topic under discussion. All of this is presented succinctly, with grace and sensitivity, using modern language. The writing is both challenging and thought provoking. One place where this broad sweep can be seen is in the list of books and articles that appears in the bibliographic section at the end of the book – something that you rarely find in traditional commentaries. Under “alef,” for example, we find Rabbi Moshe Alashkar, Professor Hanoch Albeck, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Professor Yaakov Nahum Epstein, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, and more – unusual neighbors to find sharing space on a bookshelf. This work represents a unique composite of different worlds. Structural analysis and existential insights Here is an example of one of the presentations in the book: “Praying with intent” (Chapter 13). The presentation opens with the well-known Mishnah that appears at the beginning of the fifth chapter: One may only stand and begin to pray from an approach of gravity and submission (koved rosh). There is a tradition that the early generations of pious men would wait one hour, in order to reach the solemn frame of mind appropriate for prayer, and then pray, so that they would focus their hearts toward their Father in Heaven. Standing in prayer is standing before God and, as such, even if the king greets him, he should not respond to him; and even if a snake is wrapped on his heel, he should not interrupt his prayer. (b. Berakhot 30b) Rav Brandes gets right to the point, noting that the Mishnah contains three distinct messages: – One must pray from an approach of gravity and submission (koved rosh); – Serious preparation for prayer is an indication of piety; – It is forbidden to interrupt one’s prayers. This is emphasized by the Mishnah by presenting extreme situations, e.g., when greeted by a king or challenged by a snake. These three messages touch on different points. Submissive prayer describes the behavior and mental state of the worshiper. Preparation and focus in prayer concentrates on the content, the interpretations of the words, and the very consciousness of standing before God. The prohibition against interrupting one’s prayers is a practical issue emphasizing the need to maintain continuity in prayer even in the face of imminent danger. From here Rabbi Brandes moves to the Gemara’s discussion, analyzing the fourAmoraitic opinions offered, interpreting the concept of koved rosh. Although only one opinion will be accepted as law, Rabbi Brandes examines each of the four opinions – and the verses that they quote – deriving how we are to approach prayer, how we can connect awe and fear, joy and trembling. From here we are treated to a close reading of thebaraitot that are brought by the Gemara that parallel the structure of the Mishnah: One may neither stand to pray from an atmosphere of sorrow nor from an atmosphere of laziness, nor from an atmosphere of laughter, nor from an atmosphere of conversation, nor from an atmosphere of frivolity, nor from an atmosphere of purposeless matters. Rather, one should approach prayer from an atmosphere imbued with the joy of a mitzva. We continue with the flow of theGemara , as the author deals with such issues as how we can focus our hearts towards heaven in prayer, or how to train ourselves in “the art of restraint” by emulating RabbiAkiva who prayed privately in an enthusiastic manner, in contrast with his restrained prayer when praying in public. In the context of prayer, theGemara brings a number of aggadic statements about Hannah, the prophet Shmuel’s mother, whose prayer (see 1 Sam. Chapter 2) serves as an archetype for Jewish prayer generally. These statements are analyzed and recorded under a series of headings, like: “Midrash Hannah – Characteristics of an eminent worshiper,” “Intoxicated prayer,” “The expanse of the worshiper.” Having gathered the many sourcesappearing in the Gemara together with those that he introduced in his presentations, Rabbi Brandes sums them up with insights that are practical, yet existential, and applicable to the here and now. He writes: “Every individual, whether young or old, has his or her role in prayer. The Talmudic discussions, both halakhah and aggadah, can serve as a guide and a compass, directing us towards the study and experience needed for meaningful prayer. Still, the unique characteristics and personal meaning of prayer can only be attained through the efforts of the individual and the community in every generation. They must shape their experiences according to their own image and principles, based on the guidance of the prophets of Israel, its sages and its founders” (p. 217). In concluding his lesson on birkat hamazon (the Grace After Meals), Rabbi Brandes writes: “When reading the Shema and its blessings, the worshipper accepts the Yoke of Heaven‘ when you sit at home and when travelyou on the way,’ with eyes closed and focused intent, disengaged from the surrounding environment. When going to pray in the synagogue, one stands before God in the midst of one’s community. It is at the dinner table at home when we have the opportunity to bring Godliness into the very heart of the physical world.This is the responsibility of the Jewish people living in God’s land, enjoying the sweetness of its fruit and enjoying God’s presence (p. 243). The lessons on other topics that appear in this book are treated in a similar fashion. These include, orf example: “Times of the evening recitation of theShema ,” “Women’s exemptions from the commandments ofShema, Tefillin and prayer,” “Sources of blessings and their significance,” “Bread,” “Points of difference between Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel in regard to a meal,” “Dreams,” and more. Calling for a New Approach The format of the book is also unusual. There are two columns on each page, with a different font for the sources quoted from the Talmudic works and the commentaries, and with rich footnotes for reference. The book is written in a literary Hebrew and is well edited. This design is reminiscent of the layout in traditional commentaries on the Talmud, which often appear in two columns, albeitusually in “Rashi script,” with no subheadings, no footnotes, no language editing and many abbreviations. One can assume that the choice of this format is meant to suggest that what is found in this book is “new wine in a venerable container.” In his introduction to the book, RabbiBrandes notes the context in which these lectures were presented over the years: in the Himmelfarb school in Jerusalem, in Beit Morasha and in community lectures. Each group contributed their part, and the unique structure of theselessons drew from their participation.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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]
  • Artscroll and More
    ArtScroll and More ArtScroll and More by Marc B. Shapiro Continued from here. 1. As mentioned, I believe that on occasion ArtScroll is unaware that the text it is explaining is a censored text. Sometimes it might even be an internally censored text (i.e., censored by Jews so as to avoid difficulties with the non- Jewish authorities). This same problem is often found with aharonim. How about with rishonim? For example, was Rashi ever misled by an internally censored text? I would hesitate to say so but this is exactly what is suggested by R. Elijah David Rabinowitz-Teomim (the Aderet), though he piously prefaces his .לולי דברי רש”י remarks with the words Sanhedrin 58b states: Resh Lakish said: A heathen who keeps a day of rest, deserves death, for it is written, “And a day and a night they shall not rest” (Gen. 8:22), and a master has said: Their prohibition is their death sentence. Ravina said: Even if he rested on a Monday. that the original version (פשוט) The Aderet sees it as obvious of Ravina’s statement was “Even if he rested on Sunday,” and this was changed to “Monday” due to fear of the Christians.[1] Rashi, however, offers an explanation as to why “Monday” is mentioned, meaning that if the Aderet is correct then even Rashi was misled by the altered text.[2] As part of his explanation on this passage, Rashi also This is the authentic .אחד בשבת ששובתין בו הנוצרים :writes version of Rashi which appears in the early Talmud printings.
    [Show full text]
  • Was the Chasam Sofer Inconsistent? a Review Essay
    239 Setting the Record Straight: Was the Chasam Sofer Inconsistent? A Review Essay By: NOSSON DOVID RABINOWICH In this essay we will discuss claims made in two recent articles, published by two leading scholars, to the effect that the Chasam Sofer was inconsistent and contradicted himself. I will attempt to show that those supposed “contradictions and inconsistencies” are either simply nonexistent or can be properly explained by careful and deliberate analysis of the actual sources and the issues involved. While my respect for Rabbi Moshe Sofer, the late “Chasam Sofer,” of blessed memory, is not merely that reserved for a great rabbi and outstanding scholar, I have endeavored to maintain a balanced and critical approach throughout. Nevertheless I feel it appropriate to note that from my perspective, Rabbi Sofer was a holy rabbi, a saint if you wish, whose towering scholarship in so many areas of Jewish studies was unmatched by his peers or by any rabbi from any subsequent generation. I do not hesitate to apply to him this popular saying: “From R. Moshe [Ben-Maimon; Maimonidies] until [R.] Moshe [Sofer] there was no one of the stature of R. Moshe [Sofer].”1 1 As the halakhic authority of his generation, he was probably more prolific than any other rabbi going back six hundred years, since the leading halakhic authority of the Golden Age in Spain, Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet. Of R. Sofer’s peers, only Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson, She-elot Sho’el U’Maishiv, was known to have written more responsa. ______________________________________________________ Nosson Dovid Rabinowich is the Mara d'Asra of Beis Medrash Ahavas Torah, a prolific author, and teacher.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Beginning the Conversation
    NOTES 1 Beginning the Conversation 1. Jacob Katz, Exclusiveness and Tolerance: Jewish-Gentile Relations in Medieval and Modern Times (New York: Schocken, 1969). 2. John Micklethwait, “In God’s Name: A Special Report on Religion and Public Life,” The Economist, London November 3–9, 2007. 3. Mark Lila, “Earthly Powers,” NYT, April 2, 2006. 4. When we mention the clash of civilizations, we think of either the Spengler battle, or a more benign interplay between cultures in individual lives. For the Spengler battle, see Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996). For a more benign interplay in individual lives, see Thomas L. Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree (New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1999). 5. Micklethwait, “In God’s Name.” 6. Robert Wuthnow, America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005). “Interview with Robert Wuthnow” Religion and Ethics Newsweekly April 26, 2002. Episode no. 534 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week534/ rwuthnow.html 7. Wuthnow, America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity, 291. 8. Eric Sharpe, “Dialogue,” in Mircea Eliade and Charles J. Adams, The Encyclopedia of Religion, first edition, volume 4 (New York: Macmillan, 1987), 345–8. 9. Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald and John Borelli, Interfaith Dialogue: A Catholic View (London: SPCK, 2006). 10. Lily Edelman, Face to Face: A Primer in Dialogue (Washington, DC: B’nai B’rith, Adult Jewish Education, 1967). 11. Ben Zion Bokser, Judaism and the Christian Predicament (New York: Knopf, 1967), 5, 11. 12. Ibid., 375.
    [Show full text]
  • Faith Within Reason, and Without Adam Friedmann the Parshah Introduces Us to the He Began to Stray in His Thinking (From Was Never Destined to Have Children
    בס“ד Parshat Lech Lecha 11 Cheshvan, 5777/November 12, 2016 Vol. 8 Num. 10 This issue is sponsored by Jeffrey and Rochel Silver in memory of their dear friend, Moe Litwack z”l Faith Within Reason, and Without Adam Friedmann The parshah introduces us to the he began to stray in his thinking (from was never destined to have children. spiritual greatness of Avraham Avinu the idolatry of his surroundings) while However, Ramban (ibid. 15:2) notes that and recounts many of the trials that he was still small and began thinking part of Avraham’s concern stemmed he faced, as well as several day and night… And his heart strayed from his advanced age. Perhaps he interactions that he had with G-d. and understood until he comprehended didn’t merit the miracle required to have Only in the penultimate encounter, the path of truth and understood the a child at that stage. And yet, G-d which describes the brit bein habetarim route of justice using his correct promises that a direct child of Avraham (covenant between the parts) does intellect. And he knew that there is only will inherit him. It is in this moment Avraham speak. Responding to a one G-d and He conducts the spheres that the rational nature of Avraham’s promise from G-d, “I am your and He created everything, and there faith is challenged. In order to maintain protector, your reward is very isn’t any G-d in existence except Him.” his belief in G-d’s promise, Avraham great” (Bereishit 15:1), Avraham It was based on this awareness and the would need to abandon, at least in this expresses concern about his lack of conviction in the truth of his detail, his rational assumptions and progeny: “My Lord G-d, what can you philosophical analyses that Avraham move forward purely on the basis of his give me? I go childless…” (ibid.
    [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]
  • Wrestling Demons
    WRESTLING WITH DEMONS A History of Rabbinic Attitudes to Demons Natan Slifkin Copyright © 2011 by Natan Slifkin Version 1.0 http://www.ZooTorah.com http://www.RationalistJudaism.com This monograph is adapted from an essay that was written as part of the course requirements for a Master’s degree in Jewish Studies at the Lander Institute (Jerusalem). This document may be purchased at www.rationalistjudaism.com Other monographs available in this series: Messianic Wonders and Skeptical Rationalists The Evolution of the Olive Shiluach HaKein: The Transformation of a Mitzvah The Question of the Kidney’s Counsel The Sun’s Path at Night Sod Hashem Liyreyav: The Expansion of a Useful Concept Cover Illustration: The Talmud describes how King Solomon spoke with demons. This illustration is from Jacobus de Teramo’s Das Buch Belial (Augsburg 1473). 2 WRESTLING WITH DEMONS Introduction From Scripture to Talmud and Midrash through medieval Jewish writings, we find mention of dangerous and evil beings. Scripture refers to them as Azazel and se’irim; later writings refer to them as sheidim, ruchot and mazikim. All these are different varieties (or different names) of demons. Belief in demons (and the associated belief in witches, magic and occult phenomena) was widespread in the ancient world, and the terror that it caused is unimaginable to us.1 But in the civilized world today there is virtually nobody who still believes in them. The transition from a global approach of belief to one of disbelief began with Aristotle, gained a little more traction in the early medieval period, and finally concretized in the eighteenth century.
    [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]
  • THE IDEA of MODERN JEWISH CULTURE the Reference Library of Jewish Intellectual History the Idea of Modern Jewish Culture
    THE IDEA OF MODERN JEWISH CULTURE The Reference Library of Jewish Intellectual History The Idea of Modern Jewish Culture ELIEZER SCHWEID Translated by Amnon HADARY edited by Leonard LEVIN BOSTON 2008 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Schweid, Eliezer. [Likrat tarbut Yehudit modernit. English] The idea of modern Jewish culture / Eliezer Schweid ; [translated by Amnon Hadary ; edited by Leonard Levin]. p. cm.—(Reference library of Jewish intellectual history) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-934843-05-5 1. Judaism—History—Modern period, 1750–. 2. Jews—Intellectual life. 3. Jews—Identity. 4. Judaism—20th century. 5. Zionism—Philosophy. I. Hadary, Amnon. II. Levin, Leonard, 1946– III. Title. BM195.S3913 2008 296.09’03—dc22 2008015812 Copyright © 2008 Academic Studies Press All rights reserved ISBN 978-1-934843-05-5 On the cover: David Tartakover, Proclamation of Independence, 1988 (Detail) Book design by Yuri Alexandrov Published by Academic Studies Press in 2008 145 Lake Shore Road Brighton, MA 02135, USA [email protected] www.academicstudiespress.com Contents Editor’s Preface . vii Foreword . xi Chapter One. Culture as a Concept and Culture as an Ideal . 1 Chapter Two. Tensions and Contradiction . 11 Chapter Three. Internalizing the Cultural Ideal . 15 Chapter Four. The Underlying Philosophy of Jewish Enlightenment . 18 Chapter Five. The Meaning of Being a Jewish-Hebrew Maskil . 24 Chapter Six. Crossroads: The Transition from Haskalah to the Science of Judaism . 35 Chapter Seven. The Dialectic between National Hebrew Culture and Jewish Idealistic Humanism . 37 Chapter Eight. The Philosophic Historic Formation of Jewish Humanism: a Modern Guide to the Perplexed .
    [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]
  • The Torah U-Madda Journal Devoted to the Interaction Between Torah and General Culture
    THE TORAH U-MADDA JOUR NAL DEVOTED TO THE INTERACTION BETWEEN JUDAISM AND GENERAL CULTURE EDITOR : DAVID SHATZ EDITORIAL ASSISTANT : MEIRA MINTZ FOUNDING EDITOR : JACOB J. SCHACTER , 1989–1999 VOLUME SIXTEEN • 2012 –13 The Torah u-Madda Journal Devoted to the interaction between Torah and general culture. Copyright © 2013 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University. David Shatz, Editor Meira Mintz, Editorial Assistant Jacob J. Schacter, Founding Editor A publication of The Torah u-Madda Project Max Stern Division of Communal Services Center for the Jewish Future Yeshiva University 500 West 185th Street New York, NY 10033 The Torah u-Madda Project gratefully acknowledges the support of the Joseph J. and Bertha K. Green Memorial Fund at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Manuscripts should be sent to: Dr. David Shatz Editor, The Torah u-Madda Journal Stern College for Women Yeshiva University 245 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10016 Before sending your submission, please consult “Instructions for Contributors” on p. v of this volume. Back issues of the journal are available electronically at www.yutorah.org. For further information on back issues and to order copies of the current issue, please contact the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University, 212.960.5263. Produced by Olivestone, Inc. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONTENTS INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS V ARTICLES Orthodox Approaches to Biblical Slavery 1 Gamliel Shmalo A Halakhic-Philosophic Account of Justified Self-Defense
    [Show full text]
  • CBY Weekly Shabbat Announcements 8-15 Adar 5778 - February 23-March 2, 2018 SHABBAT TETZAVEH/PARSHAT ZACHOR
    CBY Weekly Shabbat Announcements 8-15 Adar 5778 - February 23-March 2, 2018 SHABBAT TETZAVEH/PARSHAT ZACHOR SHABBAT FEBRUARY 23-24 SPECIAL EVENTS Candles ....................................................................... 5:20 pm Friday night Feb. 23rd join R’ Zahtz at a pre-purim Plag ............................................................................. 4:31 pm Tisch at the Schreiber home 622 Winthrop Road at Mincha ........................................................................ 5:30 pm 8:15 pm. Everyone is invited! Moroccan Shir HaShirim/mincha ............................... 5:30 pm Shabbat Feb. 24th Michal Zahtz will give a pre- Kids Parsha Shiur ....................................................... 8:00 pm Minyanim: Purim women’s shiur in the Social Hall at 4pm. Hashkama ................................................................... 7:00 am CBY welcomes Rabbi Menachem Burstein of Sefard (Beis Medrash) ............................................. 8:30 am Machon Puah. He will address the Nusach Sefard Ashkenaz (Social Hall) ............................................. 8:30 am minyan on Shabbat. Moroccan ................................................................ 9:00 am Ashkenaz (New Main) ............................................. 9:00 am NEXT SHABBAT-SHABBAT KI TISA Ashkenaz (Old Main) ............................................... 9:15 am Candles ............................................................... 5:28 pm Teen Minyan (Social Hall)........................................ 9:00
    [Show full text]