Articles

Here you will find analyses and discussions on torah texts and topics.

• Articles in English
• Articles in Hebrew
• The Commandments of the Torah as they Apply to Women (English)
• Full list of articles

In this talk given by Eli Ehrman, he explores secular morality, a specific kind of right and wrong based on a world view that doesn't include God, and asks whether a religious Jew may be committed by such morality.


Secular Morality

Articles in English:

Lori Fagelston:

• Sanctifying the Sabbath in the Amida Prayers of the Sabbath

Ronni Suna:

• The Priority of Knowledge

Devora Segal:

• Introduction to Sefer Yehoshua

Rachel Adelman:

• Breaking the Tablets - Reflections on the First Luhot
• The Etrog and the Tree of Knowledge
• A Voice from the End of the World
• Jacob’s Night Vision and the Foundation Stone of the World

Eli Ehrman:

• Who is a Jew and if so, what is Judaism?
• The Dispute at the Rock
• Why are there Tsunamis in G-D’s Creation?

Esther Ehrman:

• Angels and Divine Communication (Vayera)
• Leprosy - Crime and Punishment (Metzora Lev.13)
• On the Soul and its Powers
• Ki Tetze: Motivating the mitzvoth – a change of emphasis?
• Personal, Individual and Communal Prayer
• Shavuot Customs
• Yigdal and the Thirteen Principles of Faith
• Preparing for Matan Torah
• Bringing the Omer
• Fire from the Lord
• Sing you barren that you did not bear
• The Four Versions of the Ten Commandment in the Torah
• The credentials for prophets and judges (parashat Shoftim)
• Remember what Amalek did to you… Shabbat Zachor and Purim
• Two Parts of the Covenant – Yithro and Mishpatim
• Kristallnacht, November 9th 1938 - A Torah Response
• Bereishit – Do Some Things Come First?
• That Which is Right

Articles in Hebrew:

Esther Marcus:

• Jeremiah

Lori Fagelston:

• Parshat Truma
• Shemone Perakim

Sara Shpitzer:

• Haftarat Vayerah

Hefzi Rublin:

• Study of Joshua Chapter 10
• Tehillim

Rav Duvdevani of Bet Shemesh:

At the invitation of a group of women, Rav Duvdevani of Bet Shemesh gave a series of talks in Hebrew on The Commandments of the Torah as they Apply to Women. These are summaries of the talks in English:

• The Status of Women in Commandments Linked to A Specific Time
• The Prayer of Hannah
• Kadish Recited by Women
• Women’s Participation in zimun and minyan
• Women and keryat haTorah, the (public) reading of the Torah
• Zimun and Grace after Meals 2
• Women's compositions in Jewish liturgy
• Baruch she patarani and celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah
• Kevod ha tzibur – Respect for the Public
• Women’s obligation in the mitzva of the Chanuka lights
• Listening to a woman’s voice
• Rosh Chodesh (New Moon), Women’s Holiday: Does the custom have sanctity or is it idolatrous?
• Esther. Is History Simply Repeating Itself?

Full list of articles:

1. The Dispute at the Rock
2. That Which is Right
3. The Status of Women in Commandments Linked to A Specific Time
4. The Prayer of Hannah
5. Kadish Recited by Women
6. Bereishit – Do Some Things Come First?
7. Women’s Participation in zimun and minyan
8. Introduction to Sefer Yehoshua
9. Women and keryat haTorah, the (public) reading of the Torah
10. Zimun and Grace after Meals 2
11. Kristallnacht, November 9th 1938 - A Torah Response
12. Women's compositions in Jewish liturgy
13. Baruch she patarani and celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah
14. Kevod ha tzibur – Respect for the Public
15. Women’s obligation in the mitzva of the Chanuka lights
16. Study of Joshua Chapter 10
17. Listening to a woman’s voice
18. Rosh Chodesh (New Moon), Women’s Holiday: Does the custom have sanctity or is it idolatrous?
19. Jacob’s Night Vision and the Foundation Stone of the World
20. Why Are There Tsunamis in G-D’s Creation?
21. Two Parts of the Covenant – Yithro and Mishpatim
22. A Voice from the End of the World
23. Remember what Amalek did to you… Shabbat Zachor and Purim
24. Esther. Is History Simply Repeating Itself?
25. Tehillim
26. The Four Versions of the Ten Commandment in the Torah
27. The credentials for prophets and judges (parashat Shoftim)
28. The Etrog and the Tree of Knowledge
29. Sing you barren that you did not bear
30. Haftarat Vayerah
31. Parshat Truma
32. Breaking the Tablets - Reflections on the First Luhot
33. Fire from the Lord
34. Bringing the Omer
35. Preparing for Matan Torah
36. Yigdal and the Thirteen Principles of Faith
37. Who is a Jew and if so, what is Judaism?
38. Shavuot Customs
39. The Priority of Knowledge
40. Personal, Individual and Communal Prayer
41. Sanctifying the Sabbath in the Amida Prayers of the Sabbath
42. Ki Tetze: Motivating the mitzvoth – a change of emphasis?
43. On the Soul and its Powers
44. Shemone Perakim
45. Jeremiah
46. Leprosy - Crime and Punishment (Metzora Lev.13)
47. Angels and Divine Communication (Vayera)