Reflections on Yom ha-‘Atsma’ut By Bezalel Naor Click here to read as a PDF: Reflections on Yom ha-Atsma’ut The fifth of Iyyar commemorates the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. When it came to the State of Israel, the Orthodox community adopted three different stances. At one extreme was Rabbi Abraham Isaac […]
Forced to Be Free By Bezalel Naor The Talmud (Shabbat 88a) takes literally the verse in Exodus 19:17: “They stood beneath the mountain.” Said Rabbi Abdimi bar Hama: This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, held the mountain over them as a vat, saying to them, “If you accept the Torah, good; […]
At this time of year, we read of the antagonism toward Joseph on the part of his brothers, primarily Judah. Obviously, Joseph’s brothers felt threatened by him in some way. Our holy teacher Rav Kook explains this opposition of Joseph and Judah. Rav Kook takes what might appear to be merely personal enmity up to […]