Insights - Exploring Maimonidean Thought

Exploring Maimonidean Thought

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	Divine Knowledge and Human Choice The Question that Everyone Asks By Yanki Tauber If G-d "already" knows what I will do tomorrow, is not my freedom to choose nothing more than an illusion? 9 Comments
	The History of Monotheism Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe The respective roles of faith and intellect in Abraham's discovery of the truth of the one G-d. 17 Comments
	Prayer: Obligation or Inspiration By Eli Silberstein It is dawn in Jerusalem. The light is clear. A bent woman lays her head upon the stones; the men are draped in a sea of undulating black and white prayer shawls. The morning service has begun. 2 Comments
	The Anatomy of a Dwelling The Mishkan as a prototype of time, space and man Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe 13 chapters are filled with the details of the Sanctuary's construction. In contrast, the Torah devotes one chapter to its account of the creation... 3 Comments
	Is My Body Mine? By Tali Loewenthal My body is "me," so why should anyone else care? Why should the Torah care? Why should the Torah give rules for how I treat my own body? 5 Comments
	The Case of the Floating Skull Ethics 2:6 By Yosef Marcus Moses, Pharaoh, Hillel, Maimonides and the Lubavitcher Rebbe on cosmic justice. 7 Comments
	For Real Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Why is the belief in Moshiach and the Redemption so central to Judaism? What makes it one of the "thirteen principles" of the Jewish faith upon which its entire edifice rests?
	The Mark of Truth A Compendium on Circumcision By Lazer Gurkow G-d wants us to remove the forskin ourselves. To demonstrate that as we complete the physical appearance of our bodies, so can we perfect the contours of our souls.... 4 Comments
	Eight Degrees of Giving By Chaya Shuchat Preserving the dignity of the receiver is a cornerstone of mitzvah of charity: Maimonides lists eight levels of giving, correlating to the degree to which the giver is sensitive to the needs and feelings of the recipient 4 Comments
	Perception and Power By Tali Loewenthal What was the purpose of the plagues? 2 Comments
	A Jewish Psychology of Motivation By Chana Silberstein Doing good without believing in reward is the flip side of doing good only for reward. In the one case, good is constrained to the metaphysical; in the other, it is limited to a crass physical expression . . . 8 Comments
	The Resurrection of the Dead Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe If the body is but a temporary and deficient container for the soul, why recompose and revive it? 8 Comments
	Ketoret Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe The most sacred -- and mysterious -- ritual in the Holy Temple was the burning of “Ketoret,” a specially prepared "incense." What is the significance of the Ketoret? 6 Comments
	Eating on the Job Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe The Rebbe examines our relationship with G-d from an interesting angle -- the legal angle. Using Torah law as our criterion, what would be G-d's obligations toward us? 4 Comments
	Creating Civilization By Tali Loewenthal What is the purpose of the commandments? One explanation in the teachings of the Sages is: to refine people. The Commandments of the Torah are intended to have a civilizing effect on the Jewish people. 1 Comment
	Alienation and Faith By Rabbi Jonathan Sacks We detect two tendencies of thought on the place of alienation and loneliness in the Jewish analysis of the emotions. To state this contrast is not to formulate an opposition; simply to open another gate... 5 Comments
	In the Land of Because By Yanki Tauber Try to imagine life without the word “because.” 7 Comments
	Extorted Faith Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Do we ever really want to go against G-d's will? What is the point of despair? What stops a person from being sensitive to G-d? 4 Comments
	Morality Without G‑d By Naftali Silberberg Is it possible to have a moral society while leaving G‑d out of the equation? 68 Comments
	Cowards of the World, Unite! By Yossy Goldman The fearless few who throw caution to the wind and heedlessly plunge into every offered challenge are indeed strange exceptions to our race. So where do all our heroes come from? 5 Comments
	Sustained Paradox By Tzvi Freeman It is irrational to believe that an elephant can fit itself through the eye of a needle. But what about the One who brought elephant, needle, size, space and logic itself into existence? 1 Comment
	Do You Resent Being Told What To Do? By Naftali Silberberg Our relationship with G-d is completely scripted. The tasks demanded by this relationship seemingly don't leave much room for improvisation, for impromptu and original outbursts of care and love. 8 Comments
	The Eyes of a Child By Yanki Tauber We remember people, events, scenes and feelings from our childhood. But do we remember the self we were? The manner in which we perceived reality?
	The Hovering Spirit By Yanki Tauber "And the earth was chaotic and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of G-d hovered upon the face of the waters." A spooky verse, a Talmudic law, and an empowering Midrash. 2 Comments
	Trapped? Not Trapped! By Tali Loewenthal Is it fair to punish Pharaoh, if his refusal to recognize G‑d is forced upon him -- by G‑d Himself? Doesn't G‑d grant free will? 14 Comments
	The Levites Ethics 2:2 By Yanki Tauber Heaven or earth? The kollel or the kibbutz? We Jews have been debating the issue for as long as we have been a people 3 Comments

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