Gil If we are charged with the obligation to know that the Creator exists – not just to prefer it rationally as the most likely and/or most elegant of competing explanations for our existence, but to actually know it as a fact – then how can we pursue anything less than the path of prophecy itself? … Read more
A late night conversation with a FB friend from Bethlehem turned to Zionism. “I don’t know much about Zionism,” he said. “Could you explain it to me? I hear some people say it’s bad, some people say it’s good.” 😬 So at a quarter to one in the morning, I gave it a shot: “Zionism … Read more
“I was thinking about it backwards. Assuming causation where there was just correlation (or maybe reverse causation). Clearly I deserve to have some bad things happen – I’m far from perfect and Hashem is just – but at least they’re not nearly as bad as they could be, probably due to the zekhuth of things … Read more
Controversial take: If Leftists treated racists the way they say addicts should be treated, instead of the way Right-wingers treat heretics, then actual progress could be made in the USA.
Can’t trust the prime minister? Can’t trust the government? Can’t trust the army generals? אנחנו מאמינים בני מאמינים שאין לנו על מי להישען אלא על אבינו שבשמיים Life here is an open miracle. Embrace it.
“…to a large extent the impact of the war, including displacement of Gazans, is due to its urban nature and Hamas’s choice to embed among civilians. It’s true that going into Rafih much earlier would have most likely avoided the length and the scale of the impact, and we hold Bibi accountable for that. But … Read more
A controversial opinion: As long as I can call this country Yisrael in Hebrew, I don’t mind if you call it Falastin in Arabic. Who cares what we call it in English. Call it Israel, call it Palestine, just don’t call it Canaan. A controversialer opinion: The national anthem is an alternative version of a … Read more
Zionism is not about building an ethno-state. Bené Yisrael include all ethnicities from all continents except Antarctica. What ties us all together is a covenant of justice, solidarity, and holiness. This covenant is the foundation of Zionism and provides it with a concrete goal: building the city, the state, of Zion. A society in awe … Read more
The Mishne Torah overall reflects Rambam’s relatively objective interpretation of Talmudic law. Where he records his own opinion, he makes it clear; and even the nuances of his application of the accepted rules of interpretation (interwoven with explicit and implicit Geonic guidance) can be discerned in comparison to the original sugiyoth themselves (often hinging on … Read more
This damned war is continuing not because of diplomatic cover and arms for Israel but for Hamas. It would be over in a day if Hamas was not still being propped up as an active threat (!) to Israel seven months into Hamas’s failed war (waged in violation of local ceasefire agreements and of international … Read more