The Torah’s prohibition against taking interest is often understood as a law about compassion. A Jew may not turn his brother’s need into an opportunity for profit. That is certainly true. But there is another layer as well. The Torah is not only concerned with the lender’s character. It is also deeply concerned with the …
The nature of disbelief is not static; it is a mirror reflecting the prevailing cultural understanding of humanity itself. In previous epochs, the existence of God was arguably too manifest to be genuinely denied. Thus, disbelief meant rebellion. God was too obvious to deny. The world, in all its wonder and beauty — by the …
Too Good To Be True: The New Disbelief of Our Age Read More »
Introduction It begins with something small — a single piece of graffiti on a subway wall. A few days later, another appears beside it. Within weeks, the entire surface is layered in markings, grime, and peeling paint. What began as a trivial blemish transforms into a symbol of neglect, and soon, the space feels hostile, …
From Broken Windows to Broken Order: A Talmudic Psychology of Disorder Read More »
Skeptics often dismiss religious belief as childish—an intellectual relic of an immature mind grasping for comfort in an unknowable universe. Faith, in this view, belongs to the nursery: it is Santa Claus for grown-ups, a fantasy for those who refuse to face the cold facts of a godless reality. But this critique, repeated often enough …
Simchat Torah will be celebrated by Jews around the world this upcoming week. On that day, we complete and begin anew the annual Torah reading cycle. This joyous milestone is celebrated primarily by singing and dancing while the Torah is kept aloft. Much has been written about the power and nature of singing. Much less …
Depression is really the combination of stagnation and despair. You’re in a place of pain and it seems your situation is inescapable. And because the demon of depression is more of an existential angst as opposed to a purely mental stress, I think its prescription is slightly different than anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling of …
Early on in my life, I was compelled to develop the ability to take criticism semi-graciously. Why? Because growing up I was always surrounded by a lot of women, and there is something about the nature of a woman which creates this insatiable desire to fix a man. It’s actually remarkable, men don’t really care …
Generally, we look at the Torah as a commentary to life. But what is just as true, but not as widely recognized, that our life serves as commentary to the Torah. We can read the Torah many times over, understand the words but be at loss at its meaning. The Torah can be saying only …
I went today to Rav Chaim’s funeral. I was amongst over 750,000 people there. My left leg has been hurting me but I was determined to go. I walked miles to get to the funeral. At a certain point, I began limping, and after I just couldn’t walk anymore, I sat down on some steps …
On the Passing of Rav Chaim & The Evolutionary Process Read More »
Passover is the formation and creation of the Jewish people. In effect, we celebrate our birth as a nation. I had a very interesting encounter recently that gave a whole new meaning to my Passover. I was dead asleep on an intercontinental flight and my stewardess woke me up. Why? She wanted to inform me …