What should a Kohen do if there is no Levi to wash his hands before Birkat Kohanim? He should look for a bechor – a first born – to fulfill this role in place of the Levi. The reason behind this halacha is due to the fact that First Borns were initially slated for this role — indeed, all the…
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…
Learn about our activities this week by exploring the Bulletin for Shabbat Parshat Chayai Sarah, November 13-14.
The weekly bulletin for the week of Shabbat Parshat VaYera, November 6 – 7.
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.…
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…
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…
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 —…