Abraham’s Journeys: Shechem
Bereishit יב (Genesis 12) 1 Now the Eternal One said unto Avram: ‘Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, unto the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of…
Tag Judaism
Refuting the “Oral Law” – Egypt and Tamei/Tahor
Returning to Egypt Still another argument for the “Oral Law” is that Uriyyahu returned to Mitzrayim.2 Now there was another man who prophesied in the Name of the Eternal One – Uriyyahu son of Shema’yahu of Qiryat-hayye’arim, He prophesied concerning…
Abraham’s Journeys: Ur and Haran (Part 2)
There are many traditions regarding the location of Ur Chasdim including Islam and the classical writer Eusebius. According to Islamic tradition, the birthplace of Abraham – Ur Chasdim – is location not in Mesopotamia but in southern Turkey. Islamic tradition…
Abraham’s Journeys: Ur and Haran (Part 1)
Bereishit יא (Genesis 11) 27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Avram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot. 28 And Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in…
Refuting the “Oral Law” – Martyrdom and Offerings
Martyrdom Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi points to the prayer of Dani’el and asks why Dani’el would risk his life to pray if there is not a mitzvah in the Torah to actually pray. Without an “Oral Law” to explain martyrdom there…
Book Review: An Introduction to Karaite Judaism
An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice, and Custom Author: Al-Qirqisani Center for the Promotion of Karaite Studies Publisher: Al-Qirqisani Center Year: 2003 Pages: 245 plus Introduction and Appendix An Introduction to Karaite Judaism is the al-Qirqisani Center’s attempt…
Judaism 101: Who is a Jew?
The term “Jew” – Yehudi in Hebrew – can mean various things depending upon the context and the time period the term is used. Originally a Yehudi would have been a member of the Tribe of Yehuda. The original Yehudim…
Refuting the “Oral Law” – Instructions and Judgment
Instructions Rabbi Shimon ben-Tzemach Duran points out the following passage as proof of an “Oral Law.” You should make clear to them the laws and the instructions, you should make known to them the way they should go, and the…
Refuting the “Oral Law” – Exegesis and Grammar
Rabbinic Judaism (specifically Orthodox and Conservative) offers to the world the idea that the “Oral Law” – as enthroned in the Talmud – was given to Moshe at Har Sinai along with the Written Torah. Orthodox and Conservative Jews claim…
Intermarriage and the HUC-JIR
A couple months ago rabbinical student Daniel Kirzane wrote a post related to his student senior sermon. His topic was a discussion about the current position of the HUC-JIR regarding applicants to its rabbinical school who are married to or…