“… and he shall dwell alone, isolated outside the camp will be his residence …” (Leviticus 13:46)
Thus we are told is the punishment for the person afflicted with Tzara’at, the spiritual disease often likened to leprosy and brought on by — according to our Sages — the sin of speaking ill of other people.
Rashi notes that this [...]
Archive for April, 2009
Jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge straight into Israel
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Independence Day, Israel, suicide, tazria on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 2 Comments »
All We Have to Fear is Fear Itself
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged fear, freedom, Passover, psychology on Monday, April 27, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The Torah uses two phrases to describe how God took the Jews out of Egypt — with a mighty hand (Yad Chazakah) and an outstretched arm (zarua natuah). Why both expressions?
Rav Kook answers as follows. The mighty hand was employed to weaken Pharoah and force him into letting the Jews go. But that alone was insufficient [...]
An Earth Day Special
Posted in Uncategorized on Monday, April 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
For an interesting take on disposal of hazardous waste — 2,000 years ago! — check out the Talmud’s Bava Kama Tractate 30A. There, you will see the discussion held by a series of Rabbis of how to best dispose of dangerous materials, in those times things like thorns and shards of glass. The accepted practice [...]
