To me as a child growing up in a Hasidic family and school, the centrality of Israel to Judaism was not overly stressed. However, as I grew older and started to learn Hasidic philosophy, I soon realised that love for and support of the Land of Israel have a central…
Month: March 2006
Israel Do Not Fear: God Is With You
The Bible talks about all types of Tzara’at (leprosy) including Tzara’at that inflicts buildings. The Torah relates, “God spoke to Moses and Aaron saying: when you arrive to the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I will place Tzara’at affliction upon a house in the…
Why Do They Hate Us?
The recent terror attack in London was unique–it was carried out by British-born fundamentalists, not foreigners. After suffering years of IRA-sponsored terrorism, the question people here in Britain are asking is why people would want to blow their fellow citizens and themselves to smithereens in a crowded rush-hour underground train….
God, How Could You Be So Cruel?
There are no words to adequately describe the horror caused by the tsunami. Watching the disaster unfolding on the film taken by an amateur cameraman in Aceh, Indonesia, left me shaking. How quickly the terror struck! People were going about their daily lives one second and drowning the next. Over…
The War in Iraq – Second Thoughts
So the war in Iraq seemed to be quick and definitive. Now nearly three months on, the almost daily attacks on coalition troops, the deep resentment by the Iraqis and the inability to find any weapons of mass destruction has caused many of us to revisit the justifications for war….
A Delicate Balancing Act
While in Israel last week I heard about the following incident A religious academic institution was developing a new method for teaching Talmud[1]. The intention was to introduce this new method to the Yeshivot and religious high schools in Israel. However, because of the allegedly questionable religious integrity of some…
The Art of God
It is amazing how often one finds answers to long held questions in the most unexpected places. One Sunday, I visited the Tate Modern in London, a famous and massive gallery of modern art. Some of the pieces on display are truly remarkable. As I was viewing the art, a…
The Importance of Appreciating Modern Art
Although I enjoy art and visit a gallery whenever I have a chance, I do not pretend to be an expert on the subject. However, an incident that I experienced this week caused me to think deeply about art in general and about modern art in particular. At the beginning…
Matisyahu: Rabbi or Rebel?
Matisyahu is now an international phenomenon; he is a reggae singer with a difference. Instead of dreadlocks he sports a trilby. His beard is predicated on the Kabbalists’ theosophy instead of Rastafarian tradition and his clothing places him in an Ultra Orthodox Jewish enclave rather than a black ghetto. Now…
Dealing With Failure
“America has spoken,” declared President George W. Bush as he announced his victory, giving him another four years as head of the free world. But while everyone is focusing on the winner we forget about the loser. Senator John Kerry moved swiftly from possible glory to certain embarrassment and then…