In the following series of video lectures, Robert John Aumann makes some very interesting connections between the Talmud and modern economic theory. … Continue readingTalmud and Modern Economics
Hanukkah At The White House
I have to predict that they could not have imagined that in 2014 there would be a Female Asian-American Rabbi lighting the menorah at the White House for an African-American president…” … Continue readingHanukkah At The White House
The Real Historical Balaam
This week’s Torah portion is Balak, which tells the story of a mythical non-Israelite prophet called Balaam … Continue readingThe Real Historical Balaam
WW I, Balfour and San Remo
Today is June 28, 2014 which marks the 100 year anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, a global war centered in Europe that began in 1914 and lastedContinue readingWW I, Balfour and San Remo
Passover in Egypt in 419 BCE
[This article was inspired by a brilliant online course by Prof. Jacob L. Wright, www.coursera.org/learn/bible-history] At what point during the first millennium BCE can we find hard evidence that matches the Biblical narrative on the formation of the Israelites and Judahites as a people and as a religion whose center of gravity is in Jerusalem? … Continue readingPassover in Egypt in 419 BCE
The Origins of Jewish Humor
Jewish Humor can actually be traced all the way back to the Bible and Talmud, which is what I will concentrate on in this post. … Continue readingThe Origins of Jewish Humor
Israel’s Declaration of Independence
Israel’s Declaration of Independence starts with the Bible, but notice that does not invoke any divine religious authority. Rather, it views the Bible, as the formative story of the Jewish people. … Continue readingIsrael’s Declaration of Independence
Passover and Jewish Freedom
Jewish Freedom was an oxymoron in almost all countries at almost all times in History. At best, Jews were tolerated, never equal to other citizens, and never truly free. … Continue readingPassover and Jewish Freedom
Mordechai And Zionism
Today is Purim, so I thought I would explore the connection between the story of Megillat Esther and the revival of Jewish life in Judea and Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile, sometimes called the Return to Zion of 538-444 BC. … Continue readingMordechai And Zionism
AIPAC Conference 2014 Trip Report
The AIPAC Conference must have been one of the largest Jewish gatherings outside of Israel in history. 15,000 people in one giant football-field-sized auditorium to spend 3 days supporting Israel. ! Just for comparison, that is 3 times the size of the URJ Biennial, which is the premier event of the Reform movement. It is roughly equal to the entire current Jewish population of Denmark and Austria combined! … Continue readingAIPAC Conference 2014 Trip Report