By Simon Holloway
Most people who use the word “midrash” don’t know what it means. To them, “midrash” simply denotes a convoluted and nonsensical commentary to a text: a tract composed with the intention of obfuscating …

By Simon Holloway
As some readers may be aware, the St Ives Jewish community has been petitioning the construction of an eruv for over two years now. A symbolic perimeter around an area, the building of …

By Simon Holloway
I don’t care how popular the iPad becomes, or even the ubiquitous E Ink devices: nothing will ever replace the joy of holding a book. The tactile and olfactory feast that is an …

By Simon Holloway
In a Sydney synagogue, a local rabbi delivered a sermon in which he criticised foul language as essentially not Jewish. I will not question the fact that classical Jewish literature eschewed scatological and …

By Simon Holloway
A story is told of a man who approaches his Rabbi with a question: “Rabbi, is there a Biblical source for wearing a yarmulka?”
His Rabbi nods emphatically. “Why, yes! The Torah says, ‘And …

By Simon Holloway
Almost everybody who has been to Italy has seen it and those who haven’t, should. Sitting within a small church on one of Rome’s seven hills, the tomb of Pope Julius II sports …

By Simon Holloway
There’s an old adage: do not discuss religion at parties. Having been burned a number of times, I tend to shy away from it, but am still a sucker for answering direct questions …

By Simon Holloway
While it is my abiding interest that my contributions to this site do not become mere reflections on my own personal philosophy, a discussion that commenced in an earlier thread has tempted me …

Below are two articles on messianism in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement: Simon Holloway argues that since the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, messianism and fervour in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement have actually led them …

By Simon Holloway
Gay marriage: two words that, for many Australians, constitute an oxymoron. What is it about the idea that threatens to undermine our society? Why are so many up in arms? So many of …