Articles

| 22/06/2022

This week Moshe Benovitz, Professor of Talmud, Jewish Law at the Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies, discusses Parashat Korach. Prof....

The never-ending journey to holiness

| 19/06/2022

This week, Rabbi Professor David Frankel, Associate Professor of Bible at The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, shares insight on Parashat Shelach and next...

Judaism: A two-sided coin

| 09/06/2022

This week, Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, describes Judaism as a two-sided coin which encompasses both joys...

Solidarity and Support to Masorti Kehillah and Refugees in Chernivtsi, Ukraine

Uncategorized

Dr. Etka Liebowitz

| 08/06/2022

In order to deliver both spiritual and material sustenance to the Aviv Masorti Community in Chernivtsi, Midreshet Schechter sent pedagogical...

Where is God in the book of Ruth?

| 02/06/2022

Where is God in the Book of Ruth? Although the book’s protagonists often mention God in the things they say,...

Each of us is a puzzle piece

| 30/05/2022

Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson, Mashpiah Ruchanit (spiritual mentor) of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, shares with us a text from the Ishbitzer Rebbe....

Restoration of the Jewish Quarter After 1967

Taking on the Mantle of Leadership: Parashat Va’era with (almost) Rabbi Danny Weininger

Danny Weininger

| 26/12/2021

In this week’s parasha, Va’era, Danny Weininger explores Moshe’s confrontation with Pharaoh. How does Moshe take on the mantle of...

Denying his own destiny, becoming great within himself: Abraham Joshua Heschel

| 19/12/2021

In honor of Abraham Joshua Heschel’s 49th yahrzeit, Dr. Ari Ackerman, Lecturer for Jewish Philosophy and Golinkin Professor of TALI...

A timeless blessing seen through a work of art: Parashat Vayechi

Art and Literature

A Study in Contrasts: Dr. David Frankel on Abraham and Jacob

| 31/10/2021

Who were our ancestors and what did they represent? Abraham and Jacob present us with two different paradigms of Jewish history and identity

And What of Isaac? Prof. Moshe Benovitz on Identifying with his Forefather

| 31/10/2021

Sometimes, when asked to talk about who I am and what I am to people who don't know me very well, I talk about how I identify with our forefather Isaac.

Parashat Chaye Sarah: Four Basic Jewish Values in One Torah Portion

| 24/10/2021

The weekly portion of Chaye Sarah includes four basic Jewish values. What are these values and how do they express themselves in this Parashah?

A New Home for Kiev’s Kehillat Masoret

Linda Price

| 21/10/2021

Exactly thirty years after Midreshet Yerushalayim was founded in 1991, its thriving Kiev community is making history as it prepares to move into the first Conservative synagogue building in the FSU in October 2021.

Dr. Peri Sinclair, Susan and Scott Shay Director General, TALI, recounts the surprising story of the five daughters of Tzlofechad, which documents how social change occurred even in biblical times.

Parashat Balak: A Timeless Lesson About Respecting Privacy

| 20/06/2021

The prayer Mah Tovu – How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel – teaches us an important principle about Jewish law and privacy that is powerfully relevant today.

Parashat Chukat: Envisioning the Perfect Death

| 13/06/2021

Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson asks us to imagine the conversations leading up to Aaron’s death, between brothers and between father and son, and to envision our own perfect death.

Is it Permissible to Borrow Secular or Church Music for Prayers and Zemirot?

| 09/06/2021

What does Jewish law say about the common practice of borrowing melodies from musicals, popular English and Hebrew songs, operas and even Christian and Muslim music for prayers and Shabbat zemirot?

Parashat Korah: Seizing a Chance
To Make a Correction

| 06/06/2021

The story of the rebellion against the prophet Samuel serves as a corrective for Korah and the failures of the Judges of the period.

Parashat Shelach Lecha: A Zionist Response to the Pessimism of the Spies

Shabbat

| 30/05/2021

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin, president of the Schechter Institutes, shares an inspirational song that serves as a Zionist alternative to the pessimism of the spies at the center of this week’s parasha Shelach Lecha.

Parashat Naso: How Do We Serve God From a Place of Doubt?

Shabbat

| 18/05/2021

Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson draws a parallel between attributes of the sons of Levi – Gershon, Kehath and Merari – and how we approach situations when there is doubt and uncertainty.

Parashat Bamidbar: The Desert is the Perfect Place to Become Holy

Shabbat

| 09/05/2021

A substantial part of the Torah takes place in the desert. Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch explains why a place of emptiness and desolation is the ideal setting for one of the holiest moments in the history of the Jewish People.

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai: The Meaning of Dwelling in the Land

| 03/05/2021

Dr. David Frankel, senior Bible lecturer at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, explains how the Bible is teaching us to rethink our relationship to our property and our land.

Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim: Building a Metaphorical Sanctuary

| 18/04/2021

Rabbi Akiva cites the verse “Love your neighbor as yourself" from this week's parasha as a challenge to building a metaphorical sanctuary, entering its Holy of Holies and learning to love and live well.

Parashat Tazria-Metzora: The Greater Good Versus Individual Rights

| 16/04/2021

Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya, director of Midreshet Yerushalayim and Midreshet Schechter, discusses the case of the leper as a prime example of how society must weigh individual rights against the community's well being.

From the Holocaust to the Rebirth of Israel: A Tale of Two Letters –1938 & 1951

| 08/04/2021

Two family letters give perspective to the history and current state of Israel as it marks 73 years of statehood.

Responding to Tragedy: Parashat Shemini and Holocaust Remembrance Day

Dr. Tamar Kadari

| 05/04/2021

As we observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dr. Tamar Kadari, Dean of The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, looks at different ways to respond to tragedy.

Drama or Trauma: Who Are You When You Cross the Red Sea?

| 29/03/2021

Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson, Spiritual Mentor/Senior Lecturer of Rabbinics and Chassidic Thought at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, explores what happened to us in Egypt and the journey across the Red Sea.

“From Sorrow into Joy, from Darkness into Great Light”

Choosing to Belong to the Chosen People

| 08/02/2021

Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya, director of Midreshet Schechter and Midreshet Yerushalayim, discusses Parashat Mishpatim and the unique relationship between God and the Jewish People.

Why did Moses descend with two tablets of the 10 commandments?

| 31/01/2021

Physical depictions of the 10 commandments lead us to believe that two tablets were required to write all of the 10 commandments. Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin on Parashat Yitro cites a Talmudic discussion and two prominent archeological discoveries as evidence that there were two identical tablets.

Songs of the Heart: Shabbat Shira

| 25/01/2021

Parashat Beshalach and the Song of the Sea – The Slonimer Rebbe described three types of song: songs of the mind, songs of the heart and songs of the limbs. What songs might we find inside ourselves?

Redemption and Inheritance: Parashat Bo

| 17/01/2021

Parashat Bo: How do we claim our dual inheritance, that of the Torah and of the Land of Israel?

God’s Infinite Wisdom: Parashat Va’era

| 10/01/2021

In Parashat Va'era Moses threatens Pharaoh with plagues, revealing the nature of God's infinite wisdom via these supernatural events.

Whose God is it Anyway? Parashat Shemot

| 03/01/2021

God of Abraham or God of Moses? Eitan Cooper, Executive Vice President of The Schechter Institutes, examines two contrasting portrayals of God...

Name Changes in the Bible: Dr. Peri Sinclair on Parashat Vayechi

Dr. Peri Sinclair

| 28/12/2020

Name changes in the Bible occur on several occasions and raise many questions. Parashat Vayechi explores the differences and symbolism of the two names of the patriarch Ya'akov.

Judah or Joseph? Human Action or Divine Plan?

Dr. Sarah Schwartz

| 20/12/2020

Judah or Joseph? Which brother’s point of view would you adopt? Dr. Sarah Schwartz, head of Bible studies at The Schechter...

Lighting the Chanukah Candles: Shabbat Chanukah

| 07/12/2020

How will we bring light this Chanukah? Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson, Spiritual Mentor/Senior Lecturer of Rabbinics and Chassidic Thought at...

Does Halakhah Require Vaccination Against Dangerous Diseases Such as Measles, Rubella, Polio and Covid-19?

Medical Ethics

| 01/12/2020

Does Jewish law require vaccination? How does Jewish law relate to those who endanger the lives of others by refusing to be vaccinated?

Jacob and Esau: Can Enemies Be Friends?

| 30/11/2020

Jacob and Esau: Their contentious relationship goes back to their tussle inside their mother Rebecca’s womb. What are our expectations...

| 11/10/2020

In its first four chapters, the Book of Genesis paints a portrait of humanity that is refreshingly applicable to our current political and social dilemmas, and then offers a way forward as well, if we choose to take it.

Rethinking Pilgrimages to Jerusalem Amid a Global Pandemic

| 16/08/2020

This week’s Torah Portion, Shoftim (Judges) describes the political institutions of Biblical Israel – Judiciary, Monarchy, Prophet and Priest. It is the closest thing to a political constitution in the Torah, so it is worth exploring in the light of contemporary politics.

Is it Permissible to Pray Barefoot?

Kashrut

Sources of Strength in Parashat Beha’alotcha with Dr. David Frankel

| 07/05/2020

This week’s parashat Beha’alotcha holds a relevant and meaningful passage, uttered by Moses: Rise, O Lord, and may your enemies flee...

Celebrating Miracles Every Day in Parashat Emor with Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch

| 05/05/2020

Parashat Emor details the three major holidays in the Jewish Calendar. Halfway between Pesach and Shavuot, Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, Dean of...

Making a Seder in the Shadow of Corona

| 13/04/2020

Why is this night different than all other nights? In two weeks this question will be asked in many homes,...

How is this Night Different?

This year we will indeed be different, but the seder will be no less meaningful. Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies...

Heavenly Discipline: Dr. Shula Laderman on Parashat Shemini

| 12/04/2020

Dr. Shula Laderman, lecturer in Judaism and the Arts at The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, offers an interpretation of Avner Moriah’s...

This Night Will be Different: Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin on Seder Ritual

| 12/04/2020

How is this night different from all other nights? This year, Passover will indeed be different. Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin, President...

Ten Brief Responsa/Halakhic Reactions to the Corona Crisis

| 05/04/2020

From holding a virtual seder to sitting shiva and hearing the Megillah via electronic media: Answers to a variety of questions on Jewish law as they relate to prayer and observance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aharei Mot and Kedoshim: Asking The Hard Questions With Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya

| 05/04/2020

There are two parashiyot this week, Aharei Mot and Kedoshim, both coming at a time in our collective self-isolation where we can draw...

Rejoicing on Purim

| 12/03/2020

The Jewish people throughout history have always opposed drunkenness, which is why the quotation in the Talmud, “One must drink...

| 12/03/2020

During these trying times, Passover and its accompanying rituals still beckon even if this year will be very different in...

In Light of the Spread of the Corona Virus, is it Permissible to Listen to the Megillah Reading “Live” Via Telephone, Radio, Television or on Facebook?: Responsa in a Moment: Volume 14, Number 4

| 01/03/2020

In light of the spread of the corona virus, is it permissible to listen to the Megillah reading “live” via telephone, radio, television or on Facebook? Responsa in a Moment Volume 14, Number 4 March 2020

Visualizing Parashat Terumah with Dr. Shula Laderman

| 24/02/2020

In Parashat Terumah, God instructs Moses how to fashion a dwelling place, a sanctuary for God’s presence. Dr. Shula Laderman,...

Negiah: Is it Forbidden for a Jewish Man
to Touch a Woman or Shake Her Hand?
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 14, Number 3

| 23/02/2020

It is accepted today in the Haredi world and, to a certain extent, in the Modern Orthodox world that a Jewish man must not touch a woman at all, including a handshake. Is this true? Is this custom really a halakhic prohibition?

Offering Counsel: Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya on Parashat Yitro

| 23/02/2020

n the parasha Yitro advises Moses to appoint a team of magistrates and judges to advise him in the task...

Which Way to Go? Eitan Cooper on Beshalach

| 22/02/2020

In Parashat Beshalach the route the Israelites will take through the desert is described. Neither the journey nor the identity...

Hear Their Voices: Neve Schechter Awards Inaugural Contemporary Israeli Art Prize

| 25/01/2020

Women and women’s voices were front and center at a moving, musical evening at Neve Schechter on January 2, 2020. Neve...

What Does the Torah Say About Asking Questions? Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox on Parashat Bo

| 25/01/2020

In Parashat Bo the Israelites are commanded to observe the anniversary of the Exodus each year and tell the story...

In Parashat Vayetze, a ladder with angels ascending and descending from it appears in Jacob’s dream. The significance of the...

Schechter Ordains 100th Rabbi!

In a festive ceremony filled with music, Torah and song, the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary ordained its rabbi, marking 30 years of ordaining...

New TALI partnership with Integrated Schools

The start of the 2019-2020 school year brought with it an exciting new collaboration for the TALI Education Fund. TALI is...

Shining Brightly in Ukraine

he Kiev Masorti community had a powerful multi-faith Chanukah candle lighting on December 23rd. Rabbi Reuven Stamov, Schechter alum and resident...

Telling Your Story: Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson on Parashat Vayigash

n Parashat Vayigash Judah approaches Joseph to plead for the release of Benjamin, offering himself as a slave to the...

Plotting Leadership: Eitan Cooper on Parashat Miketz

| 24/12/2019

In Parashat Miketz, Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and is appointed to implement Egypt’s anti-famine plan, which brings him into contact...

Why Do We Light Hanukkah
Candles in the Synagogue?
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 14, Number 2

| 23/12/2019

According to the Talmud, Hanukkah is a home celebration. Why, then, is there is a widespread custom to light Hanukkah candles with the blessings in the synagogue?

Wily Women: Dr. Gila Vachman on Parashat Vayeishev

| 23/12/2019

In Parashat Vayeishev, Tamar tricks Judah into helping her conceive an heir. Later on, Joseph, after defying his Egyptian master Potiphar’s wife, is...

Reexamining Esau: Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch on Parashat Vayishlachch

| 12/12/2019

In Parashat Vayishlach, Jacob prepares for a potential battle and sends Esau a large gift of hundreds of heads of livestock to appease him. Rabbi Avi...

| 05/11/2019

What are the sources for the different customs of studying Pirkei Avot and reciting Barekhi Nafshi and Shirei Hama’alot on Shabbat throughout the Jewish year?

Taking a Stand: Rabbi Dr. David Frankel on Parashat Lech Lecha

| 25/10/2019

Rabbi Dr. David Frankel, Senior Lecturer in Bible at The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, discusses our forefather Abraham’s ability to...

| 25/09/2019

With Israeli election results still in motion, let’s take a look at David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, and...

Getting Carded (In a Good Way)

Turning sixteen in Israel isn’t just a number. At sixteen, Israeli teens get their national identity cards. Learn how TALI is helping...

Repentance, Prayer and Tzedakah: A New Year Greeting from Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

| 25/09/2019

The Unetane Tokef has been a part of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur liturgy for centuries. New interpretations offer ways of making sense of this theologically challenging prayer so that all of us can find points of connection.

Aleph or Bet: Dr. Shula Laderman with a Festive Torah Tale

| 01/08/2019

On August 17, 1949, Theodor Herzl, founding father of Zionism, was reinterred in Israel. His gravesite was established on the highest...

If Donkeys Could Talk: Dr. Shula Laderman on Parashat Balak

| 16/07/2019

The fascinating story of Balak and Balaam’s failed attempts to curse the Jewish people is found in this week’s parasha....

Parashat Pinchas: Understanding What Leadership Really Means

| 16/07/2019

Are you ready for the elections? In Parshat Pinchas, we witness the ordination of Joshua bin Nun as the successor...

Finding Our Way Back in the Month of Av

Dr. Tamar Kadari

| 16/07/2019

The Jewish month of Av brings with it a season of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. The rabbis...

“Bethlehem” Exhibit Now at Neve Schechter

The first chapter of the Book of Ruth ends with the story of Naomi’s return from Moab to Bethlehem with her Moabite...

Stick or Carrot? The Giving of the Torah

Dr. Tamar Kadari

| 19/06/2019

When it comes to educating students, teachers often ask which is more persuasive: the carrot or the stick? Was the...

Where Are the Women in Jewish Thought?

| 19/06/2019

The field of Jewish Thought for many years has been considered the sphere of male thinkers and philosophers. This week Dr....

Was Anything so Wrong in Korach’s Message? Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch Explores the Parasha

| 16/06/2019

“For all the community are holy, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you, Aaron and Moses,...

Exclusivity and Openness on Shavuot

Rabbi Ilana Foss

| 25/05/2019

Exclusivity is often seen as a selling point. Whenever I’m at Ben Gurion airport I look longingly at the executive...

Paul Shrell-Fox on Brotherly Kinship

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox on his Bar Mitzvah anniversary! In the seventh reading of Parashat Behar, the...

Everyone has Value: Reb Mimi Feigelson on Parashat Bechukotai

Parashat Bechukotai deals with what sort of pledges we make to God in the Temple: Who makes offerings? How much...

Watershed Moments: Dr. Gila Vachman on Parashat Chukat

Lifecycle

What was the connection between the death of Miriam and the absence of water?Our sages say that the three “gifts”...

Forging our Future: Dr. David Frankel on Parashat Bamidbar

Is Parashat Bamidbar a period of rebellion and complaints or is it, as stated in Jeremiah, about God and Israel’s...

Thoughts on Yom Haatzmaut

| 14/05/2019

As Israel celebrates its 71st birthday, some of Schechter’s faculty share what “Israeliness” means to them. May Israel go from...

All I Really Need to Know about Judaism, I Learned in Pirkei Avot

| 05/05/2019

All I really need to know about Judaism, I learned in Pirkei Avot. Why every Jew should study Pirkei Avot between Pesah and Shavuot, and throughout the year.

Seder or Symposium: Rabbi Prof Golinkin On Seder Origins

| 25/04/2019

What is the origin of the Seder and the Haggadah? Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, discusses the connection between the...

Revisit the story of Exodus

| 25/04/2019

Who is God in the Story of the Exodus? Now that we have celebrated the first days of Passover, let’s revisit...

Parashat Metzora: Is Sin the Cause of Suffering?

| 19/04/2019

Is sin the cause of suffering? Dr. David Frankel, Senior Lecturer in Bible at The Schechter Institutes, discusses how in the ancient era...

The Challenge of “V’ahavta; And You Shall Love.”

| 19/04/2019

Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, Dean of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, delves into the relationship between two verses in Parshat Kedoshim: “You shall love your neighbor like...

The Disqualified Kohen

| 19/04/2019

Parashat Emor is dedicated to the rules regarding the personal status and physical condition of Kohanim, the priests who worked in...

Is There an Obligation to Kiss the Tzitzit?

| 05/04/2019

| 14/03/2019

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Professor. Renée Levine Melammed shares with us the powerful story of influential...

Jewish Holidays Among the Crypto-Jews

| 13/03/2019

We are blessed to be living in a time where an overwhelming number of Jews are able to celebrate Jewish...

Construction Ahead: Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch on Priestly Attire

| 19/02/2019

The Torah now begins to detail the designs of the Mishkan, a sanctuary for God’s presence, and the priestly (Cohen’s)...

Seize The Moment in Parashat Tetzaveh

| 19/01/2019

וַיִּבֶן מֹשֶׁה מִזְבֵּחַ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ ה’ נִסִּי: וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָ-הּ מִלְחָמָה לַה’ בַּעֲמָלֵק מִדֹּר דֹּר “Then Moses...

Parashat Yitro: gratitude, compassion and a cross-sensual experience at Sinai

| 19/01/2019

Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Lecturer in Family and Community Studies at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, discusses two concepts as related in this...

Faith vs. Action in the Jewish Tradition Parashat Mishpatim

Social Justice

| 19/01/2019

This week’s portion, Mishpatim, lists a hodgepodge of topics: dealing with the Hebrew slave, damages, an eye for an eye,...

My Israeli Jewish Identity, Rediscovered

Moriah Karsagi-Aharon

| 14/01/2019

Why I Had to Travel all the Way to New York in Order to Understand More About My Israeli Jewish...

A Hidden Lesson of the Hanukkah Story

A hidden lesson of the Hanukkah story: What is the connection between Joseph’s story in parashat Miketz, and the story of Hanukkah?

Where is God in the story of Joseph?

Feel alienated at services and wondering where God is in all of this? Parashat Vayigash might have the answer for you....

Parashat Shemot Why was Moses Chosen to Lead the People of Israel?

Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, talks about leadership qualities. Moses was not chosen to lead the Jewish people because...

Parashat Va’era

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה ‘ אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה In Parashat Va’era, God says to Moshe: “I will be what I will be.”...

Is it Permissible to Study Biblical Criticism?

| 05/12/2018

Question from a student at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary: Is it permissible to study and teach biblical criticism, especially regarding the Torah?

Parshat Toldot: Earning the Name By Eitan Cooper

| 19/11/2018

In Parshat Toldot, Jacob was the underdog, the eternal number two, says Eitan Cooper, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The...

Parshat Vayetze: Jacob the Refugee Perspective of a Schechter Rabbinical Seminary Student

| 19/11/2018

Parashat Vayeitze tells the story of Jacob as a refugee. The world is awash with refugees. What does the Torah have...

What can we learn from Jacob and Esau? Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox on Parashat Vayishlach

| 19/11/2018

“The next time Jacob and Esau meet is at the burial of their father, Isaac, in Hebron (Genesis 35:27-29).” Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Lecturer in Family and...

When Disaster Strikes By R. Miriam Berkowitz

Lifecycle

| 11/11/2018

How do we respond to tragedy? One Saturday night in November 1995, I was making Havdala with JTS rabbinical students...

Judaism and Christianity: Bridging the Gap Dr. Ari Ackerman

Lifecycle

As we are restarting the annual Torah reading cycle, Dr. Ari Ackerman, outgoing Dean, and Senior Lecturer in Jewish Thought at...

What Does “Be Fruitful and Multiply” Mean? By Eitan Cooper

A couple of years ago Prof. Alon Tal, a leading Israeli environmentalist, wrote a controversial book called “The Land is Full”...

Free will in Parashat Lech Lecha Reb Mimi Feigelson

Lech Lecha! G‑d commands Abraham to set out on a journey: “Go from your land, from your birthplace and from...

Vayera -The Ethical Message of Halacha Rabbi David Golinkin

Should Halachic rulings take human suffering into account? Rabbi Professor David Golinkin explores the innate ethical message of Halacha, and asks:...

A Taste of Symbolic Foods on Rosh Hashanah Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

| 19/09/2018

A Rosh Hashanah tradition of eating symbolic foods (simanim) is intended to help us ensure a good new year. The list of simanim varies between the Ashkenazic and...

Yom Kippur as a Moment of Unity Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson

| 19/09/2018

| 12/09/2018

Camp Ramah Yachad in Ukraine makes history with female counselors and campers reading Torah for the very first time. Israeli...

TALI Partnership with the Ministry of Education in Israel

| 11/09/2018

Since its founding in 1976, TALI Education has been working with schools, parents, and students across Israel. Today, 12% of secular...

How did Mount Herzl Get its Name? Professor Doron Bar on Herzl’s Final Resting Place

Where is Mount Herzl and how else was Herzl honored? In August 1949, Theodore Herzl’s remains were moved from Vienna...

Selihot Already? Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin on Penitential Prayers

Why do some communities start reciting Selihot, the penitential prayers leading up to the High Holidays, at the beginning of the Jewish...

What happens on the streets of Jerusalem during Selichot? Dr. Einat Ramon

Listen to Dr. Einat Ramon, Senior Lecturer in Jewish Thought and founder of the Marpeh pastoral care program, as she takes us on...

Learn about the Jewish Prayer Modes with Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch

Music and prayer have been combined since the most ancient times. One cannot find musical symbolizations in the Siddur, the...

Why do Jews from Islamic Lands Object to Sitting with Crossed Legs in a Synagogue?

| 05/08/2018

Why do Jews from Islamic countries object to sitting with crossed legs in a synagogue? What are the sources? Is their objection justified?

Zealous or Zealot? Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin on Parshat Pinchas

Can someone be zealous without being a zealot? Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, discusses the incident in the transition from...

Between Destruction and Redemption: Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch on Tisha B’Av

This Friday begins the Jewish month of Av and the nine days leading up to Tisha BAv, the Ninth of...

Tisha B’Av and the Mourning and Survival Patterns of Jews

As a modern-day researcher of Jewish thought, I especially love the personal descriptions that Jewish philosophers insert parenthetically into their...

The Feminist Message of Parshat Va’etchanan The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments appear in two different sections of the Torah, first, in the Book of Exodus in Parashat Yitro,...

Does Love Keep Us From Being Alone? Rabbi Reb Dr. Mimi Feigelson on Parshat Eikev

How do we overcome aloneness in the world? In Parshat Eikev the word love is used four times as we...

Origin Stories: Dr. Ari Ackerman on How he Became a Scholar of Jewish Thought

What inspires someone to choose an academic’s life devoted to Jewish Philosophy? Dr. Ari Ackerman, Dean of the Schechter Institute of Jewish...

Superwoman: Professor Renee Levine Melammed on a 17th-Century Woman’s Kabbalistic Powers

Can sexuality be taken out of the yeshiva? A few months ago we learned how Asenath Barazani, a woman and...

How Do We Establish Memory? Professor Doron Bar on the Creation of Yad Vashem

Memory or heroism? Victims or heroes? What should a museum commemorate? Professor Doron Bar, President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies,...

Right from Wrong? Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch on the Responsibilities of Leadership

Was Moses responsible for the decisions made by the Israelites? Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, Dean of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, discusses the responsibilities...

Is a Double Ring Ceremony Permissible?
Responsa in a Moment Volume 12, Number 5

Marriage

| 05/06/2018

Is it permissible for the bride to give a ring to the groom as part of the wedding ceremony? Is it permissible for her to say “harei ata mekudash li” [behold you are betrothed unto me] or another verse or statement?

Dr. Eitan Chikli

| 15/05/2018

For some years now conventional wisdom has it that Israel’s policies toward liberal streams and Palestinians are to blame for...

The State of Israel and the Jews of North America: From Problems to Solutions

| 05/05/2018

Translation of a lecture delivered at a conference on "The State of Israel and the Jews of North America: How Can We Bridge the Gaps."

How Do We Respond to Tragedy? Dr. David Frankel on Parshat Shemini

| 23/04/2018

When tragedy strikes what do we say to God? In Parshat Shemini Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, die suddenly. Dr. David...

How Do We Make Sense of the Insensible? Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch on Parshat Tazria-Metzora

| 30/03/2018

As we begin the Book of Leviticus the language of sacrifices becomes more prominent in our Torah reading. Rabbi Dr....

Are you Ready to Leave Egypt? Rabbi Professor David Golinkin Takes the Passover Stage

| 30/03/2018

Lights Camera Action! Drama doesn’t just take place in the movies, on Passover we remember that we too were brought out...

What Time Is It? Professor Dr. Ari Ackerman on Heschel’s Approach to Ritual and Sacrifice

| 30/03/2018

Whether it is the yearly ritual and sacrifice of Passover celebrations or the familiarity of Shabbat rituals each week, Jewish...

Rav or Rabbah: Choosing Titles in the Rabbinate

Midrash Sifre teaches that the Israelites left Egypt with Miriam at their lead: “when you left Egypt–” during the time...

Humility and Truth vs. Orthodoxy’s Quest for Special Status

| 14/03/2018

An article reporting in detail on the recent visit to Israel of a delegation of Orthodox leaders from the US...

Is There More Than One Way to be a Zionist? Professor Yossi Turner and a Zionist Dilemma

| 14/03/2018

What is the Zionist dilemma of living in Israel learn from a Zionists living in the Jewish Diaspora? Dr. Yossi...

How Can One Sell Hametz Which is in a Different Time Zone? Responsa in a Moment: Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2018

| 06/03/2018

How can one properly execute the sale of hametz which is located in a different time zone or country?

The Destructive Effect of the Partition at the Western Wall on Other Jewish Holy Sites in Israel

| 15/02/2018

We once again witnessed the ridiculousness of the separation between men and women at the Western Wall when female journalists...

How Should a Person Repent
for Causing an Accidental Death?
Responsa In a Moment: Volume 12, Number 2 February 2018

| 06/02/2018

If a Jew causes the accidental death of another person, what can he or she do in order to repent for that action?

Are All Women Leaders Feminists? Professor Bat-Sheva Margalit Stern on Women’s Leadership

| 04/02/2018

Are women leaders by definition into feminism? February marks the 49th anniversary of Golda Meir being elected prime minster (she...

| 04/01/2018

Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Lecturer in Family and Community Studies, offers a play-by-play on the negotiations between Moses and Aaron and...

Was Beatriz Convicted? Professor Renée Levine Melammed and the Case of the Mysterious Midwife

| 04/01/2018

This month marks the 482nd anniversary of the start of the trials of one of the women of the Spanish Inquisition,...

What’s Old is Holy Again? Professor Doron Bar on Israel’s Creative Holy Places

| 04/01/2018

Preparations are underway for Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the Trees, which falls on January 30th and 31st this...

Whose (Genetic) Line is it Anyway? Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox on Toldot

| 04/11/2017

Does Esau get a bad rap? Through his unique lens of evolutionary psychology, Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Lecture in Family...

Dreaming in Color Dr. Shula Laderman on Parshat Vayetze

Art and Literature

| 04/11/2017

Is Jacob caught in a dream or in reality in Parshat Vayetze? Dr. Shula Laderman, lecturer in Judaism and the Arts,...

Who’s Buried in Rachel’s Tomb? Professor Doron Bar on Parshat Vayishlach

| 04/11/2017

Israel’s holy sites have been a destination for pilgrims of many faiths. This week, when we read Parshat Vayishlach, Professor Doron...

Back Again to the Jewish-Israeli Conflict

Dr. Eitan Chikli

| 12/10/2017

The Secular Forum is an Israeli organization dedicated to keeping religion out of Israeli secular public schools, and is actively...

| 05/09/2017

We are pleased to present our pilot video series Shavua Tov @ Schechter. Each week one of Schechter’s talented faculty and...

Yom Kippur: Awareness of Our Human Vulnerability

| 05/09/2017

As Yom Kippur descends upon the Jewish nation in Israel and in the Diaspora, synagogues are filled with people who...

The Month of Av: Mourning, Pride, Love

| 14/08/2017

This Thursday I will be marching in the gay pride parade in Jerusalem, after marking Tisha B’av (the Ninth of...

Guarding Souls: Saving Life in the Age of Science and Technology

When God instructs Adam in Eden from which tree he is forbidden to eat, the instruction is fairly clear. Genesis...

A Research Journey: From the Père Lachaise Cemetery to the Waddesdon Manor to Ramat Hanadiv

In my book Ideology and Landscape, which is about reinterring Zionist leaders in the homeland, I devoted a chapter to the...

Ahavat Hinam (Groundless Love) as an
Antidote for Sinat Hinam (Groundless Hatred)
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 11, Number 6

| 06/07/2017

Groundless love as an antidote for groundless hatred: A eulogy for Rabbi Baruch G. Goldstein זצ”ל

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Moses and the Sin at Merivah Parshat Chukat 5777/2017

| 12/06/2017

This week’s Torah portion tells the famous story of Moses’ sin at the “waters of Merivah,” for which he was...

Some Thoughts about the Kotel, Conversion and Sinat Hinam

| 11/06/2017

As we approach the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’av, let us redouble our efforts to get the Kotel agreement approved, to bring one million Jews to the Ezrat Yisrael and to scuttle the proposed conversion law.

Why Do Certain Synagogues Sing Psalm 92 After the Torah Reading of the Shabbat Minhah Service?

| 06/06/2017

What is the origin of the custom to sing Psalm 92 – Mizmor Shir Leyom Hashabbat – after the Torah reading during the Shabbat Minhah service at some synagogues?

The Kotel Controversy: Like Hillel and Shammai, All Voices Must be Heard

| 15/05/2017

The events of the past week have left me speechless. I am reminded of the ascension of Hananya ben Hizkiahu...

From a Sacred City to a Capital City (and back again?)

| 15/05/2017

I was born two years prior to the Six-Day War when Jerusalem was still a divided city, with barbed wire...

More Precious than Rubies is the King’s Daughter – Feminine Imageries of the Torah

The great classical liturgist, R. El’azar Birabbi Killir (Land of Israel, 7th c.), composed a number of piyyutim (Hebrew liturgical poems) in honor...

Step by Step: Independence Day Parades in Jerusalem Before and After the Six Day War

| 15/04/2017

Beginning in 1948, the State of Israel marked Independence Day on the Fifth of Iyar with military processions. Each year,...

Passover for the Soul Bringing spirituality to our seder celebration

| 14/04/2017

Israelis celebrate Passover in one of two ways: either by closely sticking to laws of Pesach related to hametz and...

Righteous Gentiles and the Shoah: Altruism of the Highest Order

| 13/04/2017

Would you be willing to sign an organ donor card? Donate a kidney? A lobe of your healthy liver? Have...

The Drama of the Seder What a Pesah Custom Can Teach Us about Jewish Education Today

| 15/03/2017

Modern Jewish educators frequently use drama as an educational tool in order to bring a Biblical or Talmudic story to...

Every year camp counselors confront a dilemma: what content is appropriate for Tisha B’Av when this fast day occurs during...

Israeli Identity 101

The recent Pew Survey on Israel, conducted from fall 2014-Spring 2015 examined the religious identity of Israelis. The survey was...

Is it Permissible to Renovate or Build a New Building During the Nine Days Which Begin on Rosh Hodesh Av?

| 10/07/2016

Is it permissible to renovate or build a new building during “the nine days” which begin on Rosh Hodesh Av? Does is matter if the building is a Jewish school, a Bet Midrash or a synagogue?

Two Women Who Clung to the Shechinah

Within ancient Hebrew manuscripts, scattered among libraries throughout the world, one can find some surprising treasures, like previously unknown and...

Why do Jews Eat Milk and Dairy Products on Shavuot?

| 10/06/2016

When did Jews start eating milk and dairy products on Shavuot and why?

Why Do We Spill 16 Drops of Wine While
Reciting the Ten Plagues During the Seder?
Responsa in a Moment: Vol. 10, Issue No. 6, April 2016

| 10/06/2016

What are the sources and reasons for sprinkling or spilling wine during the recitation of the Ten Plagues at the Pesah Seder.

David Raziel: A Pre-State Hero’s Story of Final Rest

| 13/05/2016

This article is dedicated to the memory of the IDF’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror on the eve of Israel’s...

The Book of Chronicles and the Ephraimites that Never Went to Egypt

| 12/04/2016

Did the story of the exodus really happen? Did the entire Israelite people suffer slavery in Egypt before arriving in...

The Complexities of Purim

Purim is a holiday whose meaning is shrouded in mystery. The only clear element is what we are commanded to...

Adding Adar Bet: Striking a Balance

Rosh Chodesh (New Month)

| 13/02/2016

This Hebrew year consists of thirteen months rather than twelve. Jews throughout the world will add (“intercalate”) a second month...

Is it Permissible to Institutionalize Parents with Alzheimer’s Disease? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 10, Issue No. 5, February 2016

| 10/02/2016

How does the commandment to “Honor your father and your mother” influence decisions to institutionalize a parent suffering from dementia?

Visual Midrash on the Parting of the Red Sea: Parashah Beshalach

| 12/01/2016

Moses said to the people: Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will show...

What is the Proper Way to Refer to the Parents of a Convert?

| 10/01/2016

Much has been written throughout the generations about how to refer to a convert. What is the proper way to refer to the parents of a convert?

The Menorah: Spanning the Entire Zionist Spectrum from Herzl to HaRav Kook

On Chanukah in the year 1897, shortly after the First Zionist Congress was held, Theodore Herzl wrote an article called...

Uncovering Women’s Lives in the Cairo Geniza

| 13/11/2015

In his monumental work, A Mediterranean Society, S.D. Goitein devoted an entire chapter of Volume III to “The World of...

The Middle Way in Israel Today
Responsa in a Moment: Vol. 10, Issue No. 3, November 2015

| 10/11/2015

What is “the middle way” in the Jewish tradition and what should be the agenda of “the middle way” in Israel today?

Why Do Children March with Flags on Simhat Torah?

| 13/10/2015

There is a widespread custom for children to march with flags on Simhat Torah. What are the origins and reasons for this custom?

Rosh Hashana: Judgement Day or Day of Creation?

Jewish sources posit different dates and meaning to the Jewish New Year. The verses of the Rosh Hashanah Torah reading...

Yom Kippur and Procrastination

| 13/09/2015

Erev Yom Kippur, minutes before the storm. A point of time in the regular weekday that is nonetheless all holiness....

Sukkot: Celebrating Jerusalem as the Center of the Earth

| 12/09/2015

One of the most curious phenomena associated with the rituals of the Second Temple Judaism is the water libation offered...

Why do we Wear a Kittel and use White Torah Mantles, Table Covers and Ark Curtains in the Synagogue on the High Holy Days?

| 11/09/2015

What are the sources for the customs of wearing a kittel and using white Torah mantles, table covers and ark curtains on the High Holy Days?

Are Jews Smarter?

| 13/07/2015

The following article, written by Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, is a synopsis of a lecture he delivered in June, one of a six-part...

As a Driven Leaf by Rabbi Milton Steinberg – Notes and Sources

| 10/07/2015

A comprehensive listing of Jewish sources quoted or hinted at in the classic novel As A Driven Leaf by Rabbi Milton Steinberg.

Learning the Language of Profound Tolerance

Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Lau

| 14/06/2015

I wish to first of all thank the Schechter Institute and the Award Committee who chose to award me, along...

The Seventeenth of Tammuz: Canceling the Fast

Dr. Yoel Rappel

| 13/06/2015

According to Jewish tradition, five events took place on the 17th of Tammuz: Moses smashed the tablets of the Law,...

Is Judaism Really in Favor of Pluralism and Tolerance?

| 10/06/2015

Thousands of years of Jewish sources contradict the notion that Judaism opposes pluralism. Judaism is in favor of unity but opposed to uniformity.

Counting the Weeks: A Farmer’s Almanac

According to the Rabbis, Shavuot, like the other festivals of the Jewish year, has a specific date on the calendar;...

Why do We Decorate Synagogues and Homes with Trees and Flowers in Honor of Shavuot?

| 10/05/2015

There is a widespread custom to decorate synagogues and homes with trees and flowers in honor of Shavout. What are the sources and reasons for this custom?

The Circle of the Seder Plate; The Cycle of Our Fortunes

When recalling my Jewish childhood, the first memory that comes to mind is from Seder night – the immaculate house,...

Rice, Beans and Kitniyot on Pesah: Are they Really Forbidden? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 9, Issue No. 4, March 2015

| 15/03/2015

Why do Ashkanazic Jews refrain from eating rice, beans and kitniyot on Pesah? Is there any way of doing away with this custom?

Does Justice Have a Gender?

| 13/03/2015

With our return to sovereignty our eyes look towards the legislating body, the Knesset. We demand to find a legal...

Drinking on Purim: A Return to the One

| 13/02/2015

On Purim we are bidden to get so thoroughly drunk on wine or other intoxicants that we are unable to...

What is the Halakhic Status of an Uncircumcised Jew?

| 10/02/2015

May an uncircumcised Jew have an aliyah, serve as a sheliah tzibbur, have a Bar Mitzvah, a Jewish wedding or burial? What is the halakhic status of an uncircumcised Jew?

Holocaust Survivors in Israel – Living Symbols of Poverty

Dr. Galia Glasner Heled

| 13/01/2015

We have a special obligation to see to the welfare of Holocaust survivors. The government has provided additional resources to...

Why Do We Give Hanukkah Gelt and Hanukkah Presents? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 9, Issue No. 2, December 2014

| 10/12/2014

What are the sources in Jewish law and history for the tradition of giving gifts of gelt and presents on Hanukkah?

The War of Cultures: An Evolutionary Analysis

At the Schechter MA graduation ceremony in Jerusalem a few months ago, the master of ceremonies, Jacky Levy, a well-known...

When Should One Correct the Torah Reader?

| 10/11/2014

In some synagogues the Gabbai corrects the Torah reader for every error, while in others, only when the error changes the meaning of the text. Which practice is more correct?

The Four Species in Ancient Jewish Art

Dr. Noa Yuval-Hacham

| 13/10/2014

While some believe that ancient Jewish culture was primarily textual, based on written and oral traditions, studies of Jewish art...

Thoughts for the New Year: “Man Was Created on Rosh Hashanah” and “Of Uman, Community and 21st Century ‘I’”

Dr. Tomer Persico

| 13/09/2014

With the high holidays approaching, the Schechter Institutes wish you and your loved ones a most festive and meaningful holiday...

Woman and Ritual: Bat-Mitzvah in Israel Curricula

How should a young Jewish Israeli girl celebrate her bat mitzvah? The answer to this question is clear to members...

A Funeral that Teaches the Art of Living

From the story of a life on its last journey, from words of family members gathered around the grave, rises...

What Does Jewish Law Say About the Murder of Muhammed Abu Khdeir and Other Attacks Against Innocent Arabs?

| 10/07/2014

What does Jewish law say about the murder of Muhammed Abu Khdeir and other attacks against innocent Arabs?

The Giving of the Law at Sinai

| 12/06/2014

VISUAL MIDRASH is a most special place. We invite you to discover the beauty and wealth of information found within this...

Jewish Unity and the Spring Holidays
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 8, Issue No. 8, June 2014

| 10/06/2014

Unlike the fall holidays, which are primarily interested in relations between man and God, the spring holidays are connected by the common theme of the unity of the Jewish people.

Ruminations on Memory and its Transmission to the Next Generation

Every year, the days between Passover and Independence Day are a period of rumination for me regarding the purpose of...

A Dialogue about Judaism in Israel Today in Honor of Israel’s 66th Independence Day Responsa in a Moment: Volume 8, Issue No. 7, May 2014

| 12/05/2014

In memory of 23,169 soldiers who fell defending the State of Israel. May their memory be for a blessing. In December 2013,...

How to Foil a Revolution

A well-known theory about the Exodus posits that a slave revolt lay behind the biblical account (See the discussion in...

Why Do We Put a Shank Bone (zeroa) and Egg (beitzah) on the Seder Plate? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 8, Issue No. 6, April 2014

| 10/04/2014

Must one use a shank bone and egg on the seder plate? What is the origin of this custom? Must the shank bone and egg be roasted? May they be eaten after the seder? May a vegetarian use two other foods?

Rabbis in Spiritual Crisis*

| 13/03/2014

Belief in God is an intuitive belief given our neurobiological makeup. Intuitive reasoning tends to change over a lifetime to...

Why do Ashkenazic Jews Eat Hamentashen on Purim? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 8, Issue No. 5, March 2014

| 10/03/2014

What is the origin of the tradition of Ashkenazic Jews eating hamentashen and other special foods on Purim?

A Proposal for a Systemic Solution to the Problem of Agunot Honoring International Women’s Day 2014

Rabbis and Rabbinical Seminaries

| 10/11/2013

After closely observing this corrupt institution for forty years, I believe that the State of Israel should abolish the Chief Rabbinate as quickly as possible.

The Binding of Isaac in Art: Piety and Protest

| 12/10/2013

The article The Binding of Isaac: Piety and Protest explores this week’s Torah Portion “Vayera” in a totally new light:...

Is it Permissible to Practice Reading the Torah From a Torah Scroll?

| 10/10/2013

Is it permissible for a child to practice reading the Torah from a Sefer Torah in preparation for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony?

Yom Kippur: A Day for Moral and Cosmic Self-Examination

| 13/09/2013

The Days of Awe, or High Holidays, including Yom Kippur, constitute one of two beginnings in the Hebrew calendar. The second...

Joy and Gladness on the Ninth of Av and Yom Ha’atzma’ut

As a Zionist and a religious Jew especially on Ninth of Av, I see God’s hand in the rebirth of...

The Status of Women in Jewish Law: a
Dialogue With Shmuel Rosner in the LA Jewish Journal Responsa in a Moment: Volume 7, Issue No. 9, July 2013

| 10/07/2013

Questions and answers on the status of women following the publication of The Status of Women in Jewish Law: Responsa.

Does Jewish Law Permit Internet Surveillance? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 7, Issue No. 8, June 2013

| 10/06/2013

There is no simple solution to the ethical dilemma of protecting privacy and saving lives What can Jewish law and tradition teach us about the ethical dilemma of internet surveillance versus saving lives and rights to privacy?

From Sinai to Ruth: Why We Read Megillat Ruth on Shavuot Israel Standing Before God

| 12/12/2012

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights – when those colorful little candles illuminate the great darkness imposed by nature, when the...

What does Jewish Law Have to Say about Surrogacy?

Medical Ethics

| 10/12/2012

What does Jewish law have to say about conceiving children through surrogacy?

The Yetser Hatov in Rabbinic Thought

The rabbinic notion of two inclinations – good and evil – vying for domination in each human heart is first...

The Sweetness of “Bitter-Heshvan”

Rabbi Elisha Wolfin

| 12/10/2012

The month of October, or Mar Heshvan (“bitter-Heshvan”as it is playfully called,) denotes the period of time immediately following the...

Zionism: A Unifying Movement Within Judaism

| 13/09/2012

These days, as the topic of the rift within the Jewish People pervades the media (less so the street), it...

Jewish Women in Mediterranean Society

| 12/07/2012

The Genizah collection has provided an entrée into what is aptly described by S. D. Goitein in the third volume...

Remembering the Destruction of the Temple – Good or Bad?*

| 10/07/2012

Historical memory is crucial to a people. Since the redemption is not yet complete, we must continue to fast on Tisha B’av and remember the destruction of Jerusalem.

An Evolutionary Look at Jewish Religious Practice

| 13/06/2012

Last November SIJS hosted a one-of-a-kind conference in conjunction with the Binah Yitzrit Foundation of Austin Texas. The theme of...

Why is Keriah Performed on the Left Side for Parents but on the Right Side for Other Relatives?

Illness, Burial and Mourning

| 10/06/2012

What are the sources for the differences in how mourners perform keriah (rending a garment) for a parent and for other relatives?

Seeing the Voices: Some Thoughts on the Nature of Revelation

“And all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when...

Is it Permissible to Eat and Drink in a Synagogue Sanctuary or Bet Midrash?

| 10/05/2012

It is customary to hold communal meals in a synagogue sanctuary or Bet Midrash on holidays, Shabbat and weekdays. Does this contradict Jewish laws that forbid eating in a synagogue or Bet Midrash?

The Song of Songs and the Story of the Exodus from Egypt

It is customary to read the Song of Songs on Pesach. Some read it at night after completing the Haggadah;...

Romaine Lettuce or Horseradish:
Will the Real Maror Please Stand Up?

| 10/04/2012

Most Jews in the Diaspora use horseradish for maror at the Seder, while most Israeli Jews use romaine lettuce. Which custom is more correct?

On Purim and Yom Ha-Kippurim

Our Sages said: “All festivals will be annulled, except for the days of Purim, as it is written: ‘And these...

May Women Read the Megillah in Public?
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 6, Issue No. 4, March 2012

| 10/03/2012

Since women are required to read the Megillah, is it permissible for women to read Megillat Esther in public on Purim?

Between Land and State – ‘Greater Land of Israel’ according to Tabenkin and the United Kibbutz Movement

A few months ago I submitted my doctoral thesis to Haifa University. The dissertation examines the theoretical sources of the...

Handmade Midrash

| 12/01/2012

The seed that became The Handmade Midrash workshop of the last twenty-five years germinated from a momentary flash of insight...

“He Who has a Heart Thirsting for the Light… Come Join Us:” Chanukah and the Zionists

| 14/12/2011

We carry torches, on dark nights, The paths glow beneath our feet, And he who has a heart thirsting for...

“Kol B’ishah Ervah” – Is it Really Forbidden for Jewish Men to Listen to Women Singing? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 6, Issue No. 2, November 2011

| 10/11/2011

Is it forbidden for Jewish men to listen to women singing? Was there any halakhic justification for a group of soldiers to walk out of a ceremony in which a female singer sang a solo?

Isru Hag: Binding the Festival with Eating and Drinking

| 13/10/2011

Scholars have long been puzzled by a difficult verse in the book of Psalms, recited towards the end of the...

Blessing and Atonement: Blessings, Honoring Parents, Atonement and Closeness

If we stop a moment to think back and ask ourselves how our Jewish identity has been formed by our...

The Confession of Sins on Yom Kippur

| 10/09/2011

What are the sources for the viduy or confession of sins on Yom Kippur? Must we recite the very long confession which is found in the Mahzor?

The Blood is Still Seething : A Message for Tish’a B’Av 5771

Rabbi Moshe M. Silberschein

| 13/07/2011

Then he killed women as well as babes at the breast, And the blood rose among them like a sea,...

Dona Gracia Nasi (1510-1569): A Conversa of Import

| 13/06/2011

Last year marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of one of the most well-known women in Jewish history: Dona...

Shavuot: Whatever Happened to The Ten Commandments?

| 10/06/2011

Why did our ancestors require the reading of the Ten Commandments in public only three times a year, but encourage their recitation in private all year long?

The Labor of Sovereignty: Remembrance Day and Independence Day

Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum

| 15/05/2011

In memory of my beloved brother, Nadav Elad z”l Who fell on duty on the 18th of Av 5761 With...

The Goal versus the Way: On Pluralism and the Exodus from Egypt

Dr. Galia Glasner Heled

| 12/04/2011

Ruth Duek, a political activist and a member of Besod Siach (an “Organization for the Promotion of Dialogue Between Conflict...

The Student Struggle Against the Holocaust

| 10/04/2011

Summary of the efforts by three young rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York to raise awareness and save lives during the Holocaust.

Seriously Laughing to Death: Couples’ Games and Masks in the Book of Esther

Dr. Michal Govrin

| 14/03/2011

One way to read the Book of Esther is as a comedy laden with twists of fate evolving in fast...

Blotting Out Haman on Purim
Responsa in a Moment: Volume 5, Issue No. 5, March 2011

| 10/03/2011

What are the sources for the widespread custom to make noise every time Haman’s name is mentioned in the Megillat Esther? Is there a halakhic problem of not being able to hear the Megillah?

Attitudes Towards the Non-Jew in 20th Century Jewish Thought

| 14/02/2011

The issue of the Jewish stance towards the non-Jew recently came to the fore as a result of a rabbinic...

When a Person Passed Away in Adar, When is the Yahrzeit Observed in a Leap Year?

Illness, Burial and Mourning

| 10/02/2011

Since the custom of yahrzeit and mourner’s Kaddish arose hundreds of years after the Talmud, there is no clear consensus as to when an Adar yahrzeit should be observed in a leap year.

Behind the Scenes of NASHIM: The Trials and Tribulations of an Academic Editor

| 12/01/2011

Recently I was asked as of when have I been serving as the academic editor of NASHIM, and to be...

Is it Permissible to Change the Wording About the Sacrifices in the Middle Blessing of the Musaf Service?

| 10/01/2011

Many modern Jews do not feel comfortable asking God to restore the sacrificial service in the Temple. Is it permissible to change the wording of the middle blessing of the Musaf service which asks God to restore the sacrificial system?

Ascribing New Meaning to Hanukkah after the Destruction of the Temple

The regulations for lighting the Hanukkah lamp are found in neither the Mishnah nor the Tosefta, the corpora reflecting halakhic...

Is it Permissible to Sell or Rent an Apartment to a non-Jew in the Land of Israel?

| 10/12/2010

According to Jewish law, it is perfectly permissible to sell or rent houses to non-Jews in the Land of Israel.

“One Law You Shall Have for the Foreigner and the Native Alike:” Social Justice in the Teachings of the Tannaim

The Sages of the 2nd century in the Land of Israel The challenge placed before the Jew who truthfully and...

Why Don’t We Read a Scroll on Hanukkah? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 5, Issue No. 1, November 2010

| 10/11/2010

The holiday of Hanukkah has many beautiful customs but why don’t we read a scroll to publicize the miracles which God wrought for our ancestors in the days of Matityahu and his sons?

The Rabbis and Rain – The Religious and the Secular Approaches

“The rains come due to the merit of one person, one blade of grass, one field” (Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Ta’anit...

Rosh Hashanah: Creation of the World and Creation of Mankind

Rabbi Prof. Alexander Even Chen

| 12/09/2010

Of the midrashim that describe the creation of the world, one stands out that is short and puzzling. Breishit Raba...

The Song of Songs and Tu B’Av Love Festivities

Tu B’Av – Festival of Love Of the festivals and special days that we mark during the year, the 15th of...

Is There a Jewish Perspective on Modern Biblical Criticism? In Memoriam: Professor Moshe Greenberg and Professor Jacob Milgrom

Can the critical study of the Bible in the academic world be seen to have a clear Jewish aspect which...

Should we Continue to Fast on Tisha B’av and other Fasts which Commemorate the Temple’s Destruction?

| 10/06/2010

In light of the rebirth of the State of Israel and the reunification of Jerusalem, should we continue to fast on Tisha B’av and the other three fasts which commemorate the destruction of the Temple?

Measuring the “Holiness” of the Land of Israel: The Western Wall

The Western Wall After 1967 Ever since 1967 Israeli society has been preoccupied with the question of the quintessential meaning...

Is There an Alternative to Reciting Akdamut on Shavuot?

| 10/05/2010

Akdamut is in danger of disappearing in our day. Is there an alternative to reciting this Aramaic poem prior to the reading of the Torah on Shavuot?

From Breslau to Jerusalem: Rabbinical Seminaries as a Reflection of Jewish Renewal

| 13/04/2010

As the Jews entered the modern period in Europe, the question of the role and the future of the Rabbinate...

Why do Some Jews Recite a Special Verse at the End of the Amidah?

| 10/04/2010

There is a custom to recite a special verse at the end of the Amidah based on the letters in one's name. Where can one find a list of these verses and what is the origin of this custom?

Four Cups of Wine: A Path to Freedom

Many people have the impression that the Jewish tradition discourages drinking. There is little evidence of this in the sources....

Are Jews Required to Give a Maaser [Tithe] of their Income to Tzedakah?

Tzedakah

| 10/03/2010

What are the sources for giving Maasar Kesafim [a tithe] to tzedakah? Must all Maaser money be given to the poor or may it be used to support Jewish education, to buy ritual objects for a synagogue or for other mitzvot?

‘She’s Got A Man’s Head On Her Shoulders’ Ada Fishman (Maimon) as a Test Case For Women’s Political Activity

| 13/02/2010

The emergent Zionist society in Eretz Israel witnessed the rise of staunch women leaders. One of these women was Ada...

Is the Entire Kotel Plaza Really a Synagogue?

| 10/02/2010

What is the halakhic status, as opposed to the legal status, of the Kotel Plaza? Is it really a synagogue?

The Agunah Problem and Israel’s Law of the Land

Divorce

Reprinted with permission from Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility, shma.com, December 2009. Israel is both a Jewish State and...

The Stones Cast by the Oppressors Became the Keystone: Emil Fackenheim, the 614th Commandment and Kristallnacht

Ari Bursztein

| 13/11/2009

Kristallnacht is lodged in Jewish memory as a turning point in the active anti-Semitism that led to the Final Solution....

What are the Attributes of a Good Cantor?

| 10/11/2009

When choosing a good cantor, whether a professional or simply a member of the congregation, what are the most important attributes which one should look for?

Men and Women: Beyond Perfunctory Equality to a Spiritual Covenant

| 12/10/2009

The Rabbis taught: “Sins between man and God are atoned for by Yom Kippur; those between man and his fellow,...

Why do we Recite Psalm 27 from Rosh Hodesh Elul until Hoshanah Rabbah? Responsa for Today: Volume 4, Issue No. 1, October 2009

| 10/10/2009

What is the origin of the custom of Ashkenazic Jews to recite Psalm 27, The Penitential Psalm, every morning and every evening from Rosh Hodesh Elul until Hoshanah Rabbah?

Worshipping the Creator Prof. Moshe Benovitz

| 15/09/2009

There is one thing I’ve always found quite puzzling about the world-view of the Torah and the Bible as a...

TALI Schools: Fostering “Unconditional Love”

During the second week in July, we note the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the day on which the walls of...

Which Books May be Studied in Order to Hold a Siyyum? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 3, Issue No. 10, July 2009

| 10/07/2009

It is customary to hold a siyyum – a celebration – upon completion of a Talmud tractate. Is it possible to hold a siyyum upon completion of other Jewish books ?

Eliezer Schweid on the Relation between Halakhah and Secularism

| 14/06/2009

One of the most significant cultural trends in Israeli society is the resurgence of interest in Jewish texts among circles...

May Women Serve as Mohalot?

| 10/06/2009

Circumcision is one of the first mitzvot mentioned in the Torah. There is no question that it is perfectly permissible for Jewish women to perform brit milah.

The Sad Story of Ariella

Megillat [the scroll of] Ruth, traditionally read on Shavu’ot, tells the story of Naomi, her husband Elimelekh and their two...

Is it Permissible for a Jew to Attend the “Body Worlds” Exhibit?

Medical Ethics

| 10/05/2009

Is it permissible for a Jew to attend the “Body Worlds” exhibit in which there are 200 displays of real human specimens, including whole bodies, organs, organ configurations and transparent body slices?

Retribution is Not Enough

| 13/04/2009

(based on articles from “In Our Community” published by JTS in October 2008 and “Unsung Heroes,” Ha’aretz, March 2009) In...

What is the Purpose of the Mnemonic Dzakh Adash B’ahav in the Haggadah? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 3, Issue No. 7, April 2009

| 10/04/2009

In the Haggadah, Rabbi Judah gives the ten plagues a siman, a mnemonic: Dzakh Adash B’ahav. Why did he need to give a siman for ten words which could easily be learned by heart and what new ideas does this teach us?

Adar and Purim in Salonika (as Reflected in the Poetry of Bouena Sarfatty)

| 13/03/2009

This article is part of a forthcoming book, An Ode to Salonika: The Coplas of Bouena Sarfatty. Bouena Sarfatty Garfinkle was...

There is a custom to eat special foods on Rosh Hashanah. What are the sources of this custom? Why do Ashkenazim and Sefaradim eat different foods on Rosh Hashanah?

The Temple Destruction and its Visual Expression in Sephardic Bibles

The catastrophe of the Temple’s destruction in the year 70 stimulated a treasury of Jewish symbols that expressed visually the...

A Responsum Regarding the Annulment of Conversions

| 11/06/2008

Why would a rabbinic court in Israel which belongs to the Chief Rabbinate retroactively annul thousands of conversions performed by another rabbinic court which also belongs to the Chief Rabbinate?

Why I Made Aliyah Responsa in a Moment: Volume 2, Issue No. 8, May 2008

| 11/05/2008

In honor of Israel ‘s 60th birthday, I would like to explain some of the reasons why I decided to live in Israel.

Israel in Egypt: Slaves or Sojourners?

| 12/04/2008

Did the Israelites really come up out of Egypt ? Is there any historical actuality beneath the Exodus story? And...

Queen Vashti’s Costume Party

The article is part of the entry “Vashti”, written by the author for the Encyclopedia, Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical...

Reciting Verses Aloud in Honor of Esther During the Megillah Reading Responsa in a Moment: Volume 2, Issue No. 6, March 2008 Orah Hayyim 690:17

| 11/03/2008

What are the sources for the custom of reciting aloud four verses of redemption (2:5, 8:15, 8:16, 10:3), which are then repeated by the reader, during the public reading of Megillat Esther? May we add four additional verses of redemption related to Esther?

The Father (Herzl) and the Holy (Zionist) Spirit

| 14/02/2008

In this article, I will shed light on a lesser-known Herzl, as expressed in his literary work of the 1890s...

Is There a Problem with Plaques?

Tzedakah

| 11/02/2008

It is a common Jewish practice to publicize the names of donors and to put up donors' plaques in their honor. Is this practice permissible or is it better to give in secret (mattan baseter)?

Aharon David Gordon on Ecology and Love of Eretz Yisrael

| 11/10/2007

According to biblical law, the Land of Israel must lie fallow during the Shemitah (sabbatical) year. How should Shemitah be observed in the State of Israel?

The Prophet Jonah: Leadership and Taking Responsibility

These days are a time of crisis: a crisis of leadership and of faith in leaders. They direct us to...

Nature-Nurture & Free Will

| 13/07/2007

The age-old adage – “does the person make the job or the job make the person?” is being framed quite...

Three Early Modern Jewish Women Leaders (16th to 19th centuries)

Illness, Burial and Mourning

| 13/06/2007

Every society is concerned with the nature of its leadership; a glance at any newspaper on any given day reveals...

Is it Permissible to Recite a Mee Sheberakh (Prayer for the Sick) for a Non-Jew?

| 11/06/2007

Is it permissible to pray for a non-Jew and if so, can a non-Jew be included in the standard Mee Sheberakh prayer together with Jews?

The Zionist Movement and East Jerusalem: A Continuing Saga

My research into the romance that flourished between the Zionist Movement and Jerusalem began years ago. When I began my...

| 01/02/2007

There is a custom today to add the Imahot to the first blessing of the Amidah. Is it permissible to do so according to Jewish law?

Paul Aberman

| 12/10/2006

Hershel of Ostropol, died as he lived, with a joke on his lips. As the end neared, the people of...

Why and When Do We Read The Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) In Public?

| 11/10/2006

There is a widespread custom to read the book of Kohelet on Sukkot or Shmini Atzeret or Simhat Torah. Why do we read Kohelet at this time of year? When exactly is Kohelet read? Is this a custom or an obligation?

When Should Selihot Be Recited? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 1, Issue No. 1, September 2006

| 11/09/2006

When is the proper time to begin reciting Selihot before Rosh Hashanah? Why do Ashkenazic Jews start on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, while Sefardic Jews start on Rosh Hodesh Elul?

Back to the Sources:
Some Reflections on the War in the Galilee

| 11/08/2006

“The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” (Psalms 121:4): Sources of study to understand the war in the Galilee.

On Torah, TALI and Tolerance

| 30/06/2006

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin’s remarks at a ceremony to dedicate a new Sefer Torah for the TALI school in Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan neighborhood.

The Contribution of Responsa Literature to the Study of Halakha, Jewish Culture and History

Prof. Shmuel Glick

| 13/06/2006

Responsa literature has its roots in the Geonic period (8th century), and it continues to be written to this very...

Prayers for the Government and the State of Israel – Yom Haatzmaut 5766

| 12/01/2006

The Center for Women in Jewish Law examines solutions to free women bound in marriage by husbands who refuse to grant a Jewish divorce.

Judaism, History and Eternity According to Franz Rosenzweig

| 11/01/2006

Throughout the ages Jews and Judaism have lived as a part of host civilizations. They have been in the past...

Eliezer Schweid on the Religious-Secular Rift

| 14/12/2005

Among the many Israeli ideologues and theoreticians that have examined the conflict between religious and secular Jews in Israel perhaps...

In honor of Jerusalem Day, an examination of Jewish laws and customs that have evolved in connection with Jerusalem.

Celebrating 57: Israeli Independence Day

Linda Price

| 13/05/2005

11:00 a.m. The siren to commemorate Israel’s fallen has just sounded throughout the country. Each year, while standing at attention, ...

Where Has Matan Torah Gone?

| 12/05/2005

The story of the revelation and lawgiving at Mount Sinai is clearly one of the dramatic high points in the...

Redemption is Like The Dawn

| 15/04/2005

As Israel marks Independence Day – Yom Haatzmaut – looking back on 100 years of achievements of Zionism reveals a slow path to redemption.

Which Came First: The Hametz or the Matzah? Prof. Moshe Benovitz

Few topics are covered as thoroughly as the Passover story in Jewish educational programs of all types: formal and informal,...

Are Jews Still Commanded to Blot Out the Memory of Amalek?

| 11/03/2005

Are Jews still commanded to blot out the memory of Amalek? Why blot out the memory of Amalek, as opposed to other peoples who have attacked the Jewish People throughout history?

Leading God Out of Dark Alleyways

Aharon M. Singer

| 12/02/2005

Rabbi Judah said, “The matter may be compared to the case of a king who had two sons, one an...

Returning Territories for the Sake of Peace

| 11/02/2005

Does Jewish law permit the State of Israel to give back all or part of the territories captured in 1967 for the sake of peace and saving lives?

What Maimonides Means to Me

| 01/01/2005

In honor of the 800th yahrzeit of Rabbi Moses Maimonides, Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin discusses lessons we can derive from his life and works.

Nature and Jewish Religion: Thoughts for Hanukkah

Most biblically ordained Jewish festivals have a double significance: they have one meaning associated with nature and another meaning associated...

An examination of one of the phrases from the Unetane Tokef, a central prayer in the Jewish High Holy Day service.

A Monthly Encounter with the Skekhinah

Rosh Chodesh (New Month)

| 13/06/2004

The ritual known today as birkat hahodesh, “the blessing of the new moon”, is widely observed in synagogues throughout the...

Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers

Prof. Shmuel Glick

| 12/05/2004

Brothers and sisters of sorrow and pain! With a bowed head and in trembling before the Almighty, we gathered together...

The Passover Seder as a Key to Jewish Continuity

In comparison with the fate of many of the laws and customs associated with Jewish tradition, it appears that none...

Pesah Potpourri: On the Origin and Development of Some Lesser-Known Pesah Customs

| 13/04/2004

The holiday of Pesah has been blessed with hundreds of laws. In this article, we shall discuss some of the lesser-known Pesah customs – or at least lesser-known to Ashkenazic Jews.

Things are Not Always as They Seem

Dr. Pnina Galpaz Feller

| 15/03/2004

Masks are a kind of veil that covers the face and hide one’s identity while at the same time highlighting...

Wanted: A “Jewish Revolution”in the State of Israel

| 12/03/2004

Israel needs a revolution in education to overcome illiteracy and loss of Jewish identity in Israel.

Forging Jewish Identity in Israel

Rabbi Dr. Harvey Meirovich

| 13/02/2004

Allow me to place my observations in context by sharing a passage written by one of Israel’s leading statesmen. Allow...

A Midrash in Memory of Ilan Ramon z”l

| 01/02/2004

Hazzan Melanie Fine's midrash written in memory of Col. Ilan Ramon and the other astronauts who died in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003.

The Tenth of Tevet

Prof. Guy Miron

| 13/01/2004

The fast day of the Tenth of Tevet symbolizes symbolizes the first of a series of events which led to...

The Secret of Eternal Youth: A Tribute to Prof. Alice Shalvi

| 01/01/2004

A life of learning, teaching and doing: Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin's remarks honoring Professor Alice Shalvi's service to the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.

Hanukkah Exotica: On the Origin and Development of Some Hanukkah Customs*

| 13/12/2003

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin discusses the origin and sources of some well-known and lesser known customs of Hanukkah as they have evolved over time.

Second Temple Judaism and the Hannukah Story

Rabbi Dr. David Levine

| 13/12/2003

The Second Temple period of Jewish history begins with the edict of Cyrus in 538 BCE marking the end of...

Jacob’s Dream and the Transformational Moment

Dr. George Savran

| 12/11/2003

The narrative of Jacob’s dream in Gen. 28:10-22 describes nothing less than a transformational moment in the life of Israel’s...

“The Best of Three Worlds”: A Tribute to Professor Walter Ackerman (Acky) z”l (1925-2003)

| 27/10/2003

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin's eulogy in tribute of Professor Walter Ackerman (Acky) z”l (1925-2003).

Pidyon shvuyim (The Redemption of Captives): How Far Should Israel Go in Order to Redeem Captives from Terrorist Organizations?

| 14/10/2003

Should Israel exchange 400 Arab terrorists for Elhanan Tanenbaum and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped and killed in Lebanon in October 2000?

Death and Life are in the Hand of the Tongue: Yom Kippur 5764

Rabbis and Rabbinical Seminaries

The Ideal Rabbi in Israel Today

| 01/12/2002

The rabbinate and even the term rabbi have changed constantly during the last two millennia. What are the 10 most important qualities that make an ideal rabbi in the 21st century.

| 11/03/2002

Passover, when we retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, is an opportune time to discuss the status of foreign workers in Israel.

Purim: To Drink or Not to Drink?

| 13/03/2001

Judaism has yet to develop a clear approach regarding cloning. Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin examines cloning from a Jewish legal perspective.

A Halakhic Reaction to the Intifada

| 14/11/2000

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin looks at Jewish sources to shed light on the protests and violent confrontations with the Palestinians.

Intifada 2000: Myth and Fact

| 15/10/2000

Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin discusses myths and facts about Palestinian misinformation and violence against Israel.

Tishah B’Av: Remembrance is the Secret of Redemption