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* The Vigilant Animal: Thinkers Who Reject the Myth of Human Gullibility (6-2-26)
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Category Archives: Judaism
Can You Order A Miracle?
On the front of RabbiAriKahn.com, the rabbi debunks voodoo Judaism whereby if you do certain rituals at a certain place and recite certain things, you can get a shiduch (marriage) or a job etc. Anything that does not make sense … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism
Tagged challah, davening, Dennis Prager, kotel, magical potion, shidduch, sweet year
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Lunch Returns Me To Childhood
I made a new friend over lunch today. He’s a lifelong Seventh-Day Adventist. Our lives have many parallels. Our fathers were SDA ministers who were ejected from church ministry for preaching heresy. I feel light-headed. I feel like I am … Continue reading
Posted in Adventist, Christianity, Judaism, Orthodoxy
Tagged avondale college, freedom fries, seventh day adventism, seventh day adventists, story of abraham, vegie burgers
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Another Book On Divine Providence
Jaded Topaz echoes my thoughts: Why is everyone falling in love with "hashkafah" all over again every morning and new yeshiva "zman". I think arguing "hashkafah" is such an utter waste of intellectual energy,the concept is laughable on its face. … Continue reading
Posted in Hershel Schachter, Judaism
Tagged approbations, divine providence, guest introduction, hashkafah, intellectual energy, medieval works, utter waste
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Rabbis, Converts & Jewish Law
I got into a discussion via email with Orthodox rabbi Yehuda Yonah Rubinstein who wanted me to remove from my website a claim that he was a convert to Judaism. I decided to publish our private email exchange after he … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion, Gossip, Judaism, R. YY Rubinstein, Rabbis
Tagged converst, converts to judaism, jewish law, journalistic criteria, medical practices, orthodox rabbi, orthodox rabbis, rubinstein
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Is Hinduism Idol Worship?
Rabbi Gil Student writes: Avodah Zarah is loosely translated as idolatry or polytheism. I don’t know much about Hinduism but as I read Dr. Nathan Katz‘s memoirs of his journey from studying Hinduism to becoming an Orthodox Jew, I was … Continue reading
Posted in Hinduism, Judaism
Tagged abrahamic faiths, comic book version, descendants of noah, gil student, nathan katz, practices of hinduism
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Wedding Night Instructions For The Torah Jew
By David Deutsch If you are reading this, you have, Baruch Hashem, purchased a wife in accordance with our traditions. Mazl tov! Also, if, in accordance with our traditions, you have absolutely no idea of how one should perform the … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Sex
Tagged cohen gadol, David Deutsch, malach, rsquo, sacrificial service, torah jew
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‘ Spiritual Journey Home – Eastern Mysticism to the Western Wall’
Jeff emails: "If you’re into yoga and meditation, you might find interesting the book I’m reading now: Nathan Katz’s memoirs titled Spiritual Journey Home – Eastern Mysticism to the Western Wall (published by Ktav). He’s a professor of religious studies … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Yoga
Tagged ancient texts, buddhist practices, eastern mysticism, journey home, nathan katz, spiritual journey
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Is Yoga Kosher?
Report: Jerusalem – Aware that many observant Jews prefer to stay away from a Hindu-based practice that might smell like idol worship, California native Aviva Schmidt opened what she says is Israel’s "first kosher power yoga studio." "Yoga is very … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Yoga
Tagged bona fides, countless variations, eastern philosophy, eastern tradition, hindu sex, power yoga, rabbinical judaism, sex goddesses, spiritual elements, torah jew, yoga studio
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May A Convert Serve On A Bait Din For Conversion?
From Hirhurim: May a Convert Serve on a Bet Din for Conversion: A Short Halachic Review, Some Halachic Thoughts of My Own and a Concluding Halachic Remark Guest post by Rabbi Michael J. Broyde In a Op-Ed in The Jewish … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion, Judaism, Orthodoxy
Tagged avi weiss, classical sources, e mail address, michael j broyde, rabbi michael, torah law
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Avoiding Danger
Rabbi Gil Student writes: Because of this responsum’s importance, I would like to summarize its contents: Every person has an individual, set lifespan (cf. Ex. 23:26; Isa. 38:5; Ps. 39:5). This lifespan can be lengthened as a reward for doing … Continue reading →