Leave Egypt Behind
Aug 7, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shofetim
The Cairo Genizah—a treasure trove of Jewish history rediscovered by Solomon Schechter toward the end of the 19th century (43,000 fragments of which are housed in The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary)—attests to the rich Jewish life that flourished in Egypt and beyond.
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Who’s Judging?
Aug 29, 2014 By Danielle Upbin | Commentary | Shofetim
In the opening verses of our Torah portion, the Israelites are commanded to establish a fair, impartial, and moral judicial system upon settling the Land of Israel.
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“Alas, Poor Yorick”: A Grave Affair
Aug 25, 2012 By Robert Harris | Commentary | Shofetim
I wish to call your attention specifically to the Torah’s prohibition of “inquiring of the dead.” Rashi seems to adumbrate Shakespeare, when he includes “one who asks questions of a skull” among the possible actions that would represent a violation of the biblical commandment. But the Torah is not imagining a philosophical discourse about life when it prohibits “inquiring of the dead,” but rather, in what is likely its original context, necromancy.
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The Purpose of Ritual
Aug 21, 2015 By Richard Kalmin | Commentary | Shofetim
Deuteronomy 21:1-9 describes the ritual performed when a murder victim is discovered in the open field and the perpetrator is unknown. The elders of the city closest to the body ask God to absolve Israel from bloodguilt by accepting, in place of the murderer, a heifer killed as expiation for the crime. This ritual serves as the backdrop of the Tosefta’s chilling story about the Temple in Jerusalem.
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Roads to Nonviolence
Aug 7, 2013 By Ofra Arieli Backenroth | Commentary | Shofetim
Is there a way to wage war in a humane way?
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Judging the Individual, Guiding the Community
Aug 21, 2015 By Shuly Rubin Schwartz | Commentary | Shofetim
The 2016 US presidential election primary season has begun with over two dozen potential candidates competing for our support. Keeping track of their positions on the issues feels impossible, but watching them as they present themselves to the American public helps sharpen our thinking, not only about the individual candidates, but also about the leadership qualities we both esteem and eschew in our elected officials.
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