The Hebrew Bible – Monotheism or Monolatry?
A friend of mine, familiar with my argument in my book on the Hebrew Bible “Reconciling a Contradictory Abraham” that monotheism is not found in the Bible, raised objection from…
On the Purpose and Nature of Religious Language
On an internet forum, a person who defines himself as an atheist argued that without making metaphysical claims it can be argued that the Torah (the 5 Books of Moses)…
The Anti-Theological Nature of Biblical Faith and Theology in the Context of the Biblical Culture
My main argument in my book on the Hebrew Bible “Reconciling a Contradictory Abraham” concerns the nature of Biblical faith and theology. I argue that the Bible from a literary…
The meaning of the fast of Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av, the ninth of Av (the 5th month of the Jewish calendar), is a day of national mourning in the Jewish tradition - and, is marked by a full…
The importance of Purim
There are two teachings in the Jewish tradition in relation to Purim that are striking. The first teaching concerns the name Yom Hakippurim, which in Hebrew literally means “like Purim”.…
Purim – the shocking commandment of Rava to get drunk
The holy day of Purim is based upon the Book of Esther, which stands out in the Bible, as a great example of the anti-theological nature of Biblical theology -…
Chanukah – From the Maccabees to the Festival of Lights
The central mitzvah (commandment) of Chanukah is the lighting of the candles of the Chanukiah, which is often referred to as a menorah. But, the term menorah technically refers to…
The Biblical conception of Judaism as a religion
There is a remarkable verse that in my eyes stands out in the Hebrew Bible in terms of importance and captures the nature of traditional Judaism as a religion (Deuteronomy…
Who is a “Kosher” Jew? Maimonides’ “13 Principles of Faith” as a Binding Orthodox and Theological Dogma
I want to respond to the article by Rabbi Professor Joshua Berman “Orthodox Rabbinic Exception to the Thirteen Principles of Faith: The Dynamics of Boundary Permeability”. My response here, which…
The Book of Jonah and the way of God
The classic book of the Hebrew Bible which expresses the theme that compassion is the highest moral value (above that of justice or truth) is the Book of Jonah, and…