Articles in Religion and Jewish Thought
The Importance of Tradition – The Danger of Innovation
By Geoff Bloch
We have recently completed reading the Book of Exodus. The Book begins with the dramatic narrative of our enslavement in Egypt, our redemption, the revelation at Sinai and the giving of the 10 …
Kosher Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back
By David Werdiger
The “kosher wars” have been reignited recently with the release by Rabbi Moshe Gutnick of The Kashrut Authority (I will refer to them as KA(Syd) to avoid ambiguity) of a statement regarding the …
Tu Bishvat of Floods and Climate Change
By Ittay Flescher
Today is the day that Jews throughout the world celebrate Tu Bishevat, the new year for trees. In mystical tradition, on this day we have the opportunity to rise through all four worlds of …
Zionism Without A State: Ahad Ha’am Relived
By Adrian Sackson
In recent times, an idea has re-emerged in Israeli political discourse that had for a long time been taboo; the suggestion that the piece of territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan …
The Minyan Factory
By David Werdiger
I’m visiting Israel very briefly, and again find myself enamoured with the “minyan factory” known as Shtiblach Katamon. It happens to be about five minutes walk from where I’m staying, which is very …
The Sanhedrin: An Ancient Cure For the Modern World
By Josh Back
The ancient Sanhedrin, a council consisting of 71 men who constituted the Supreme Court and legislative body of Israel during the period of Roman rule, was dissolved in 358 CE, by imperial decree. …
Joseph, Freud, and Dreams of Hope
By Malki Rose
“A Song of Ascents. When God brings about the return to Zion, we were like dreamers. Then our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with joyous song.”
(Psalms 126:1-2)
This week’s parsha, …
Who is a Jew – from the Bible to the Beit Din
By Simon Holloway
It was about two years ago now. I was having lunch with a friend and fellow contributor to Galus, when he asked me the big question: “What’s your background?” Well, my mother is …
More than Words
By Simon Holloway
On November 7th, this coming Sunday, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz will be completing his forty-five year project of translating the entire Babylonian Talmud into Israeli Hebrew. Abigail Leichman, writing for the New Jersey Jewish …
The Social Network – My Friend has a Friend
By David Werdiger
In the weekly portion of the same name (Numbers/Bamidbar 22), Balak, the king of Moab, commissions the gentile prophet Balaam to curse the Jews who are travelling through his land on their way …
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