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The Rise of Chassidut
The Torah is an Eitz Chaim: a living, breathing source of truth. It is at once eternal and creative, staunchly rooted and widely open…
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The Implications of the Mitzva of Kiddush Hashem
The concept of a kiddush Hashem is so inherent to Jewish life, yet so misunderstood. What is its essence? Is it a mitzvah? Let us unveil its implications. In Parashat Emor, the Torah commands us: “You shall observe My commandments and perform them: I am God. You shall not desecrate My holy Name, and I…
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What Is Prophecy and Why Don’t We Have It Nowadays?
Prophecy, called nevuah in Hebrew, is found in numerous places in Tanach. It is considered a basic tenet of Judaism, but how exactly do we define prophecy and why is it not found in contemporary times? Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt”l defines prophecy as “the reality of man receiving a direct and clear message from God.…
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Is the “Pursuit of Happiness” a Jewish Concept?
The phrase “pursuit of happiness” is often associated with the American Declaration of Independence and modern Western ideals, but is it a concept that aligns with Jewish thought? While contemporary society might define happiness as a state of emotional fulfillment or material comfort in the here and now, Jewish tradition presents a nuanced and deeply…
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Witchcraft: Reality or Fallacy?
Far from Shakespeare’s “hubble, bubble, toil and trouble”, women and witchcraft is a complex area…
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A Torah’s Outlook on Livelihood
“Six days of the week you shall labor.” The Torah commands us to work, to toil for the six days of the week leading up to Shabbos. Productivity and fulfillment are lauded as true Jewish principles. Yet, when we find ourselves straddling the tightrope named parnasa, we enter a world full of doubts, questions and…
