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Jen (Rachel-Esther)
The mitzvah that wasn’t
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light Shabbat candle[s]. Many of us have heard these words spoken on Friday nights in honor of Shabbat (Sabbath).…
Book Review: American Reform Judaism: An Introduction
American Reform Judaism: An Introduction Author: Sana Evan Kaplan Publisher: Rutgers University press Year: 2003 Pages: 262 American Reform Judaism: An Introduction is an overview of the history, controversies, challenges, and reformation of Reform Judaism in America. Professor Kaplan begins…
Jewish Apologetics
Jewish apologetics attempts to defend Jews, our religion, and our culture from critics. The history of Jewish apologetics reflects a complicated relationship between Jews and Gentiles throughout the millennia. Jewish apologetics formed as a response to the challenges of pagans…
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…
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…