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Chapter I. IntroductoryI. The Problem of Coherence“There is (thus) a zone of insecurity in human affairs,” remarks William James in his essay on The Importance of Individuals, “in which all the…
[The text of this article is published without its accompanying notes.]If I were asked to characterize in a phrase the change that religious Jewry has undergone in the past generation, I would say…
One widespread misconception concerning Judaism is the notion that Judaism is a religion which is not rooted in dogma. […] To be sure, membership in the community of Israel is not contingent upon a…
It was not without hesitation that I accepted the kind invitation extended to me to deliver the Zunz Lecture of this year. Greatly as I appreciated the honor conferred upon me, I did not find it an…
This essay, written after Roe v. Wade, during a time of rising abortion polarization, offers a Jewish legal perspective that shaped national discussions.
Duality manifests itself in all things, but in nothing is this two-foldness more plainly seen than in woman’s nature.
The weaker sex physically, it is the stronger spiritually, it having been said…
In what sense is Judaism racist? Does it in general recognize the “holiness” of race and if so, what practical deductions have Jews made from such a theory?
In connection with the Nazi racist…
Like other “holy men,” the rabbi played political, religious, and cultural roles. Just as the Zoroastrian Magus was involved in the administration of the local community, in the maintenance of cultic…
It was like this in the garden:
Ben Azzai looked and died,
Ben Zoma looked and went mad;
Akiba and I went forth in peace,
but they said I cut down the young plants.
I said that one is two…
The Talmud is one of the great, classical writings of human civilization—enduring, influential, nourishing. It claims its place among the most successful pieces of writing in the history of humanity…