This week’s parasha (Deuteronomy 21:10) introduces us to a Torah command with a seemingly obvious rationale. We will explore the interpretation of the Sefer HaChinuch who sees in this mitzvah a foundation principle: we are subject to laws of nature… Read the rest

The post 5780 — Ki Tetze: The Mitzvah of the Roof Rail – Guarding Against a Fall first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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The juxtaposition of judges and police officers in the Torah is deliberate. What does this juxtaposition teach us about the inevitability of force in law? What do the rabbis have to say about recent calls to defund the police?

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The post 5780 — Shoftim: Shoftim v’Shotrim: Go together like a Horse and Carriage? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

Continue reading 5780 — Shoftim: Shoftim v’Shotrim: Go together like a Horse and Carriage? at Elmad Online Learning.

In this podcast we will look at the moral complexity behind the command to utterly annihilate an Israelite city proven to be idolatrous. The debate around the practical application of this passage results in some interesting textual comparisons to other… Read the rest

The post 5780 — Re’eh: Was there ever an Ir Nidahat or Subverted City? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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We hope that the Divine is on our side, especially when circumstances are far from optimal. How do we go about making sure that the Lord is with us in all of our earthly endeavors? In this podcast, Rabbi Howard… Read the rest

The post 5780 — Ekev: Bribing God–Not Such a Great Idea? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

Continue reading 5780 — Ekev: Bribing God–Not Such a Great Idea? at Elmad Online Learning.

In this podcast we will look at Shema as the affirmation of commitment to a loving relationship with God contingent about a structure of ritual, practice and belief that will be accessible to all Jews at any time and in… Read the rest

The post 5780 — VaEtchanan: Committing to Love first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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