-Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs)
-Ruth
-Koheleth (Ecclesiastes)
-Esther
- List of tractates of the Mishnah and Talmuds
Halacha
Biblical Studies
Philosophy Rabbinic Literature - Learn Haftorah trope. Letters to the Editor: - 2/23/07 Letter to the
Editor of The Jewish Week re: Changing
the Rules - Why Halacha should not change to match common practice. Articles including
Rabbi Gradofsky: - 10/1/04 Article in the The
Jewish Star: Temple
Israel Installs Rabbi Gradofsky
- Maimonides'
Seder: Mishneh Torah Laws of Chametz and Matzah Chapter 8, translated and
annotated.
- "Omer
Observances: Appropriate Abstinence or Excessive Restraint?"
- What
Haftorah Should Be Recited for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Av? Note: This source
sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes.
- It Really Is a
Sin: Waste in Jewish Law
- Listening to
music/live music after the destruction of the Temple and the ceasing of the
Sanhedrin.
- The
Command of God: The meaning and Application of Blessings that State "Who
Has Sanctified Us By Your Commandment and Commanded Us To . . ."
Particular attention to the blessing on reciting Hallel on Rosh Chodesh.
(Posted 1/8/06)
- May additional
aliyahs (hosafot) be added on Yom Tov or Yom Kippur? Note: This source
sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes. (Posted
1/26/06)
- Jewish Law on
Abortion and its Implications for Stem Cell Research (Summer Shabbat Study
2007/5767, posted 8/24/07). Should be read along with Dr. Daniel
Eisenberg's "Stem
Cell Research and Jewish Law" found on jlaw.com.
- May a non-Kohen Receive the First Aliya?.
- Women and Talit and Tefillin.
- BT Yevamoth 45-47 and Immersion of a Convert.
- Birkat Kohanim (The Priestly Blessing), Nigunim (tunes), and Reciting the Ribon Shel Olam for Disturbing Dreams.
- What If the Only Kohen Available To Do Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing) is the Shaliah Tzibur (Cantor)?.
- On the Ashkenazi Practice of Limiting Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing) to Holidays. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook Group
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEETAn Open and Shut Case? Opening and Closing the Torah scroll during the Blessings for an Aliyah. This is a compendium of sources addressing some points of conduct during the blessings before and after an aliyah. I present the following primary conclusions: (a) one should hold the Torah scroll open while reciting the blessing before the Torah is read and close the Torah scroll prior to reciting the blessing after the Torah is read; (b) while reciting the blessing prior to the reading of the Torah, one should look at the place in the Torah where the reading will begin or, if one does not know the blessing by heart, look at the text of the blessing; (c) after the aliyah, anything that is customarily done out of respect for the Torah during the interim between aliyot, for example, covering the Torah scroll, should be done immediately after the reader has concluded reading from the Torah, rather than waiting until after the closing blessing has been recited. In addition to these halakhic conclusions, I argue that: (a) where Tosafot rule that it is preferable for one to hold the Torah scroll closed during the blessing prior to the reading from the Torah, they are ruling in accordance with Rabbi Meir, rather than saying that Rabbi Yehudah agrees with Rabbi Meir on this point; and (b) Rashba and Mordechai's argument that the Torah should be closed between aliyot is convincing, but the argument that the Talmud implies this is anachronistic. In concluding this study, I note that the rules discussed revolve around according proper honor to the Torah, and I pray that study of these sources and proper practice during an aliyah sensitizes us to the many opportunities for bringing honor to the Torah in every aspect of our lives.
A video of a shiur (class) on this subject can be viewed from the link above (which includes a source sheet, best viewed from the pdf found on the linked page). The video is also embedded here. If you would like to comment on Facebook about this video, please do that here.
- On Women and Reading Megillah. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook Group.
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEETWomen and Tsitsit/Tallit **NEW - Updated 8/14/17**. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook group. A discussion of women and the mitzvah of Tsitsit (originally presented to Lechu Neranena, the Partnership Minyan of Bala Cynwyd (outside Philadelphia)). Conclusions: (a) It seems that at least early on in the rabbinic period, probably extending at least into the early Amoraic period, Rabbi Shimon's opinion to the effect that women were exempt from tsitsit was considered a minority opinion. However, moving forward it apparently became a fairly universal opinion (it is unclear if this transition happened during the Amoraic period). The sources of this ruling are not clear and there is an argument to be made that the halakhah "should" have been decided otherwise. (b) The position in favor of women making a blessing on wearing tsitsit may be strengthened by the fact that there is an argument that the ruling that women are exempt from tsitsit may have been based on false pretenses. (c) There is general agreement that (big H) Halakhically, women may wear tsitsit, though the Ashkenazi voice in the Shulchan Arukh says that it is haughty for them to do so and thus recommends against it (Rabbi Karo seems to have consciously declined to mention this line of thought in the Shulchan Arukh). There is significant debate as to whether a woman may say a blessing upon putting on tsitsit. (d) Women who chose to put on a tallit receive reward for doing so. (e) To the extent that a woman's motivations for wearing a tallit are criticized as being improper (an argument that is in no way adopted), this criticism seems contrary to Rav's aphorism that a person should always do mitzvot even if the person is doing so for personal reasons. (f) For purposes of Lechu Neranena, I consulted with our halakhic advisor, Rabbi Martin Lockshin. He wrote (in part), "I have no problem with women wearing tsitsit if they wish. I know that it bothers some people. I see that simply as a sociological problem that can be overcome, I hope, with sensitivity and a gentle approach." He feels that a woman may say a blessing on wearing a tallit. Regarding whether a woman should wear a tallit that is more clearly feminine, he wrote that it might be best, but he doesn't see it as a deal-breaker.; (f) In footnote 12 I introduce some preliminary thoughts on why the halakhah was decided in favor of Rabbi Shimon's minority view which requires further study.
A video of a shiur (class) on this subject can be viewed from the link above (which includes a source sheet, best viewed from the pdf found on the linked page). The video is also embedded here.
- Blind
Faith or Rational Practice: Do Mitzvot Have Reasons, and Should We Investigate
Them? (Shavuot Class 2008 on Ta'amei Hamitzvot)
- Reversal
of Fortune: How the Course of History Was Changed by the Garden of Eden. A study
of the text and the chiastic structure of Genesis 2:4-4:1.
- The Haftarah for Yom Kippur Morning Provides a selection of comments on the haftarah for Yom Kippur as well as some visual aids to see how the text uses certain key words. **NEW POSTED 9/16/18**
- A
survival guide to the Jewish New Year (outline of Chovot Halevavot on repentance).
- Desire:
Temptation Toward Evil or Inspiration For Good (Slichot Discussion 9/8/07)
- Blind
Faith or Rational Practice: Do Mitzvot Have Reasons, and Should We Investigate
Them? (Shavuot Discussion 2008 re: Ta'amei Hamitzvot). (posted
2/10/09)
- Images of God in Judaism (pre-slichot discussion 2016, link also includes Yom Kippur sermons for 2016)
- The
Seder in Rabbinic Literature Updated March 2012 (particularly additions concerning the biblical sources for the story of the four children, pages 17-21, also some notes on the four children on pages 14-16).
- Selected Rabbinic
Midrash on the Book of Ruth (Shavuot class 2006, posted 6/11/06)
- "At the Foot of Sinai: Midrashim on the Giving of the Torah".
- Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 5:7 and Avot d'Rabbi Nattan, Text A, 1:37.
- "With All Due Respect:" Selected Midrashim and Ethics of the Fathers on Proper Respect for
Superiors, Colleagues, and Subordinates.
Other
- Introduction
to Judaism lecture at the Long Beach Public Library, May 21, 2009.
- 10/12/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Matching
strict ritual halachic standards with strict ethical standards (avoiding
sales tax on a Sukkah).
- 7/13/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Week re: The
individual rabbi versus the cult of gedolim (deferring to the "rabbinic
heavyweight").
- 8/31/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Understanding
the differences between Science and Religion.
- 12/26/08 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Ethical
standards and kashruth supervision.
- 2/5/09 Letter to the Editor of the Long
Beach Herald, "We
have not overcome - yet" re: President Obama's election and the
continuing struggle for civil rights.
- 9/11/09 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Shiluach
Haken (sending away the mother bird before taking the eggs/young). (Original
article 8/28/09)
- 3/27/14 Rabbi Schachter's Troubling Tone By Rabbis Ronald Price and Noah Gradofsky on belahf of the Union for Traditional Judaism in response to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's responsum about allowing young women to wear tefillin in yeshiva high schools. Rabbi Schachter's teshuvah can be found here in Hebrew and an unofficial translation is here. An article on the teshuva can be found here. If any of these links do not work, please let me know as I have pdf backups.
- 8/22/14 Letter to the Editor of the Jewish Press regarding competition within marriage. Follow this link and go to page 82 (if the link does not work, please let me know). For the original article, follow this link and go to page 105 (note after going to the page it is helpful to click the two arrows pointing outward (on the bottom right) to expand the paper to full screen
- 4/12/06 Article in the Record (Bergen
County edition): Divine
Advice for Passover Chefs.
- 12/2/06 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Are Religious Student Groups wrong for Public Schools?
- 6/9/07 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Should
Faith Groups Be Involved In Immigration Issues?
- 10/27/07 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Do
You Believe People Can See The Future?
- 12/16/07 Picture and Caption in the Long
Beach Herald: Rabbi
and kids shoot dreidel @ the Chanukah party.
- 10/28/08 Article in Newsday: Faith,
Hope and Charity (re: religious responses to the economic downturn).
- 1/15/09 Article in the Long
Beach Herald: Religious Leaders React to Israel-Hamas War: Scan
of Newspaper (includes pictures) / Pdf
from website (cleaner text).
- 2/13/18 'Orthodox' Is Not A Trademark Of The OU The Jewish Week Online Edition, February 13, 2018. **NEW POSTED 2/15/18** Argues that the Orthodox Union should include the "Open Orthodox" camp within its organization, and further that Open Orthodoxy has a legitimate claim on the term "Orthodox."
- 6/14/18 Why Don't More Women Weart Tsitsit **NEW POSTED 6/17/18**JOFA Blog article arguing discussing the history of women being exempt from the mitzvah of tsitsit and arguing that perhaps this exemption stemmed from a misinterpretation of certain Talmudic sources. Discussion that this argument may raise new considerations when a woman decides whether to exercise her right to wear tsitsit.