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Ibn Ezra

Moses Strikes the Rock: His Sin Depends on Your Worldview

Do miracles enhance faith? Rashi and Maimonides’ diametrically opposed positions on this question lead them to very different explanations for Moses’ sin. In between them is Ibn Ezra, who has a secret as to how miracles work and why Moses failed to perform his correctly. Avvat Nephesh, in the 14th century, rejects his predecessors’ explanations, and instead critiques Moses and Aaron’s passivity and lack of leadership; they waited for God to provide answers instead of taking initiative.

Prof.

Haim (Howard) Kreisel

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Why Moses Lost the High Priesthood

Ibn Ezra’s Secret of the Priesthood.

Rabbi

Eric Grossman

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At 33, You Will Discover Azazel’s Secret

On Yom Kippur, one goat is sacrificed to YHWH and another is sent to Azazel in the wilderness. Who is Azazel? The 12th-century commentator Abraham ibn Ezra hints that the answer lies in reaching 33.

Dr. Rabbi

Zev Farber

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Two Versions of the Decalogue: Ibn Ezra’s Non-Explanation

Ibn Ezra gives a surprising non-explanation for why Deuteronomy’s version of the Decalogue differs from that of Exodus: Is it really such a problem if Moses changed the words a little as long as he got the point right?

Prof. Rabbi

Marty Lockshin

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Does a Day Begin in the Evening?

Close reading of the relevant biblical texts uncovers friction, maybe momentous historical reform.

Dr. Hacham

Isaac S. D. Sassoon

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What Is Isaac Doing in the Field When He Encounters Rebecca?

The term לשוח is a hapax legomenon, a term that appears only once in the Bible. What does it mean?

Prof.

Aaron Demsky

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Seven Torah Passages of Non-Mosaic Origin According to Ibn Ezra and R. Joseph Bonfils

A Source Sheet listing R’ Avraham ibn Ezra’s Six Non-Mosaic Biblical Passages plus his One Counter-Example, with the Complete Text of ibn Ezra’s Comments and Bonfils’ Glosses on these comments in English and Hebrew

Staff Editors

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Why the Torah Prohibits Incest

Although incest taboos are found in the majority of cultures, medieval Jewish thinkers found this to be an insufficient explanation for the Torah’s prohibitions. 

Prof. Rabbi

Marty Lockshin

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Can a False Prophet Perform Miracles?

According to Deuteronomy, a false prophet who has no message from God, and advocates worshiping other gods, can still successfully perform miracles and predict the future.

Prof. Rabbi

Marty Lockshin

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Is Holiness Contagious?

Impurity is transferred through physical contact. Theologically speaking, could the same be true for holiness?

Prof. Rabbi

Marty Lockshin

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The Significance of Ibn Ezra’s Position that Verses Were Added to the Torah

“And this is the Torah that Moses Placed Before the Children of Israel” —Numbers 9:23

Dr. Rabbi

Zev Farber

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Can the Torah Contradict Halacha?

At stake is Ibn Ezra’s curse: “May your tongue stick to your palate… may your arm dry up and your right eye go blind.” 

Dr. Rabbi

Zev Farber

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What Is Prophecy?

The nature of prophecy is perhaps one of the most overlooked questions, but it was critically important to the medieval Jewish philosophers Sa’adia Gaon, Judah Halevi, Ibn Ezra, and Maimonides.

Prof.

Haim (Howard) Kreisel

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Editorial Comments in the Opening Chapters of Deuteronomy

And Ibn Ezra's Secret

Dr. Rabbi

Zev Farber

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A Torah of Participatory Revelation in Context

Situating Sommer’s theology of participatory revelation and halachic fluidity among other Jewish thinkers and writings: Heschel, Maharal, Rosenzweig, and the Zohar

Prof. Rabbi

Alexander Even-Chen

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Authorship of the Torah: The Position of Ibn Ezra and Yehuda HaChasid

A yeshiva student asks: Is it permissible to believe that parts of the Torah were written after the time of Moses?

Rabbi

Yuval Cherlow

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Why Write a Biblical Commentary?

Walking in the footsteps of Philo, the first biblical commentator, taking Ibn Ezra’s critiques to heart, and paying it forward to the next generation.

Prof.

Ronald Hendel