The Book of Job is traditionally perceived as a treatise about good and evil and about the age-old problem of Divine Justice, or theodicy. This class will suggest that the Book of Job presents a new stage in the development of Jewish ethics, and that this new theology, which is extremely relevant and necessary for our generation, was so controversial that it had to be hidden under layers of discourse.
A true leader is not a dictator or a tyrant, but rather one who cares about all. God's ,ight and justice are described as such which are directed at helping the needy, the orphan, and the widow.
A poem in the Sephardic Rosh HaHshanah liturgy offers a revolutionary view of the Akedah, which is in line with Sephardic theology which tended to reject martyrdom.
This poem about the Akedah, written in 12th-13th C Germany, reflects the deep tension between Judaism and Christianity, as well as the influence of the Christian martyrdom culture on Judaism.
It is presented here with annotations and references.
The Midrash says that God is closer to from Rosh HaShana until Kippur. But isn't God always close to us? On the other hand, can God even be close to us?
The list of curses which is part of the covenant made with Israelites on Mount Gerizzim and Mount Eval revolves around the theme of honesty and transparency. It is a proof that the purpose of the observance system of the Torah is to help humans i creating a just society.
The discussion of a captive woman in Parashat Ki Tetze is a contentious matter among commentators. This articles suggests that the purpose of the instructions mentioned in the Parasha is to protect the captive woman and restore humanity to embattled soldiers.
The Torah establishes a judicial system in which the judges are commanded to treat all citizens equally, but is that possible when all judges are men? This question is examined by analyzing cases of Agunot, women whose husbands refuse to give them a Get - Jewish divorce.