Latest Essays
A Theological Revolution in Deuteronomy
A Theological Revolution in Deuteronomy
Unlike the Priestly writers for whom sacrifice and rituals are needed to maintain the divine presence in the Tabernacle, the Deuteronomists stress God’s transcendence and the obedience of the heart and soul.
The Purification of a Niddah: When Silence Matters
The Purification of a Niddah: When Silence Matters
Immersing in the Priestly Text: In support of Dr. Rabbi Zev Farber's contention in “The Purification of a Niddah: The Torah Requirement” that the Torah does not require women to immerse after niddah in order to become pure.
Why Deuteronomy Matters to Jews Today
Why Deuteronomy Matters to Jews Today
Viewing the Divine as transcendent and without a physical presence in the world, the authors of Deuteronomy recast earlier stories to show that the Torah—and by extension God—is nonetheless “very close to you.”
Redacting the Relationship to the Transjordanian Tribes
Redacting the Relationship to the Transjordanian Tribes
Numbers 32 combines two versions of how Gad and Reuven receive Moses’ permission to settle the Transjordan. The non-Priestly story emphasizes fraternity and kinship, while the Priestly version emphasizes law and obedience to YHWH. By synthesizing them, the redactor suggests that law can serve as a pillar around which the Israelite community can coalesce.
Why Now? Toward a Sociology of Knowledge Analysis of TheTorah.com
Why Now? Toward a Sociology of Knowledge Analysis of TheTorah.com
An analysis of why the approach taken by TheTorah.com has found such a large audience among the Orthodox at this time.
