I will only scratch the surface of this huge subject by pointing out the importance of textual continuity through 5,000 years of Jewish history. The subject of Jewish textual continuity,Continue readingJews and the Land of Israel
Revelation Revealed
What if, instead of the story we all know about how Bill Gates bought the DOS operating system from IBM, a different press-release had been circulated? One saying that GodContinue readingRevelation Revealed
Take The Fifth!
Many books and articles have been written about the literal interpretation of the Fifth Commandment: the requirement to honor and respect your parents during their lifetime. I find it natural to extend (not replace!) its meaning beyond our parents’ lifetime, and generalize it to all of our ancestors. … Continue readingTake The Fifth!
Abraham and Moses: Abstraction and Morality
I concluded in a previous post that the Jewish God is abstract. While many ritual, prosaic, poetic and linguistic elements of Judaism can be traced back to their Egyptian, Sumerian, Hittite or Canaanite neighbors, the idea of an abstract God was truly unique and unprecedented. … Continue readingAbraham and Moses: Abstraction and Morality
The Theology of 4 Maccabees
I am starting my discussions of Post-Modern Jewish Theology from an unlikely place. With Hanukkah 2013 just behind us, this is as good a time as any to present myContinue readingThe Theology of 4 Maccabees
The Miracle of Hanukkah
As I mentioned in a previous blog, the four books of Maccabees do not mention the miracle which we celebrate as the main theme of Hanukkah: The oil canister that lasted eight days. … Continue readingThe Miracle of Hanukkah