Category Archives: Marc B. Shapiro

The Historian Who Gets Me Excited About Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism is tough. There are so many required rituals, it can drive you crazy if you’re not born into it. One thing that keeps me going is inspiring Torah study and my favorite teacher for the past decade is … Continue reading

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Orthodox Rabbi Attacks Belief In Divine Nature Of The Zohar

This video is a trip: Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: “I have no idea who the speaker is, and if he has ever even read a page of the Zohar, but he does seem very sure of himself. I have … Continue reading

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Using Slave Labor To Build Our Holy Temple In Jerusalem

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: Regarding the Sacks siddur, I recommend that all listen to the wonderful dialogue between Rabbi Sacks and Leon Wieseltier available here. I have to say, however, that I was surprised to hear Sacks say at … Continue reading

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Can We Trust R. Moses De Leon?

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: “…R. Moses de Leon and the creation of the Zohar, and it is questionable if one can even speak of a single author. One essential point that must be recognized by all who investigate this … Continue reading

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The Jewish Ritual Of Washing Hands Upon Waking

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: “R. Yitzhak Abadi discusses this in Or Yitzhak, vol. 1, no. 1. He begins his responsum by pointing out that despite the fact that the Mishnah Berurah records how one is not to walk four … Continue reading

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