Author page: shirhadash613

Environmental Karma

Environmental Karma

Here’s an interesting thought from the Talmudic tractate Bava Kama (a work highlighting the Jewish laws relating to damages).  In a discussion focusing primarily on the obligations a private individual has to the public vis-a-vis the disposal of his personal property, a beautiful environmental lesson is offered.  The particular law in question is the prohibition against this individual tossing rocks…

Source Sheet for Class on Kilayim – The Mitzva of Prohibited Mixtures

Source Sheet for Class on Kilayim – The Mitzva of Prohibited Mixtures

Mitzvot 244 – 245, 548 – 551 / Prohibited Mixtures SEFER HACHINUCH 444 שלא להרביע בהמה מין עם שאינו מינו – שלא להרביע בהמה כלאים, כלומר שלא נרכיב הזכר על שום מין בהמה או חיה שאינו מינו, שנאמר (ויקרא יט יט) בהמתך לא תרביע כלאים. ובבאור אמרו זכרונם לברכה (ב”מ צא א), שאין החיוב עד שיכניס כמכחול בשפופרת ואז ילקה.…

Judging Others by Judging an Etrog: Lessons from Parshat Lech Lecha

Judging Others by Judging an Etrog: Lessons from Parshat Lech Lecha

Parshat Lecha Lecha Rabbi Yehuda Amital raises a fascinating – seemingly, at first, purely literary — question on this week’s Torah portion.  Abraham has just returned from his successful battle with the Four Kings and rescued all those captured during the preceding war between the Four and Five Kings (Genesis Chapter 14).  The King of Sodom comes out to greet…

Democratic Themes in Religious Zionism

Democratic Themes in Religious Zionism

As part of our Summary & Comment Series on Modern Jewish Scholarship, Rabbi Pear offers (below) a brief analysis of Professor Alexander Kaye’s article, Democratic Themes in Religious Zionism. The original article can be found here. SUMMARY By primarily, but not exclusively, focusing on the writings of Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli, the article explores the National Religious Rabbinic response to the…

Welcome Amudim

Welcome Amudim

On Wednesday afternoons this fall, Shir Hadash hosts Amudim – an innovative post high school gap year program for young women – for it’s weekly day of learning in Jerusalem. Included among the scholars offering ongoing classes is Shir Hadash’s co-founder and Rebbetzin, Dr. Rachel Pear (who teaches Jewish views on evolution). Other scholars include Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash —…