Ask the Rabbis | Is God the Ultimate Strongman?
“If G-d wanted to be a strongman, you would expect Him to make His presence ubiquitous,” writes Rabbi Tzvi Freedman. “Yet his PR claims He doesn’t even have a face that we can see.”
Ask the Rabbis | Can You Be Disqualified From Being a Jew?
“To answer this question, we have to ask first what makes one a Jew.”
Ask the Rabbis | Does Jewish Wisdom Offer Help in Coping with Depression?
The prophet Elijah is in a deep depression.
Ask the Rabbis | What is the Role of the Prophetic Voice in Today’s World?
HUMANIST
The legendary civil rights activist Bayard Rustin summed up the kind of prophecy we need today when he said, “The primary social function of a...
From 2005 | Ask the Rabbis: Should Jewish Children Sing Christmas Carols
American society tries to sell us the idea that Christmas is not a religious holiday because its themes—gift giving, goodwill and peace on earth—are universal. But Christmas is fundamentally religious: It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christian messiah
Ask the Rabbis | When Have You Changed Your Mind About Something Important?
“Way back when I was a normal yeshiva boy playing rabbi, I thought I was right about gay men not really being gay and that they should stop this nonsense and get right with Torah and find a nice Jewish girl. Until one day.”
Ask the Rabbis | What Impact Will Artificial Intelligence Have On People’s Spiritual Lives?
Artificial intelligence has been around ever since we plucked the fruit off the branch of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and came away with clarity around neither.
Ask the Rabbis | What Does Israel Reaching 75 Mean in the Context of 3,000 Years of Jewish History?
These 75 years of the existence of the State of Israel do not just resolve 2,000 years of exile but bring to a climax 3,000 years of Jewish history.
Ask the Rabbis | What Jewish Wisdom Would You Offer Today’s Billionaires?
Best to hold on to it so you can enjoy your bounty, but make sure you leave some for me.
Ask The Rabbis | Should We Edit Our Children’s Genes?
INDEPENDENT
Maybe not edit. Maybe just proofread and add a comma or a few comments in the margin. If circumstances require, perhaps add an exclamation mark,...
Ask The Rabbis | How Has Pittsburgh Changed Jewish Life for Your Community?
Our reaction to the events in Pittsburgh began with mourning for the victims. From mourning we moved to the legitimate fear that comes from living in a nation where easily procured weapons of mass death terrorize people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people and—as always—Jews.
Ask The Rabbis | What Sins Should We Atone For In Our Use of Social Media?
“Do we gossip? Do we repost stories about friends, family or colleagues that ought not be repeated? Do we believe everything we read?”