Jewish philosophy as well as Jewish perspectives - i.e. not only formal philosophy. NOT for questions about Jewish practice unless there's a philosophical component.
13
votes
8answers
406 views
How does “eilu v'eilu” work out with an absolute truth?
I'm under the impression that religious Judaism believes in absolute truths. That being the case, how does the concept of "eilu v'eilu divrei elokim chaim" (Eruvin 13b) work out? When two scholars ...
11
votes
4answers
212 views
Did hardening Paro's heart mean he wasn't really responsible?
As a child I often wondered how, if God kept hardening Paro's heart after each plague, it could really be Paro's fault. It sounds like God was setting him up to fail, and while that's God's ...
11
votes
4answers
616 views
“If God had not delivered us from Egypt we would still be slaves”? Really?
One part of the Pesach seder that has always bothered me is saying that if God had not taken us out of Mitzrayim at that time we would still be slaves today. This seems lacking in faith in God; ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
10
votes
3answers
221 views
Jewish concept of angels
Judaism does not believe in the free will of angels. What is the scriptural evidence for that and since when has such belief been held within the Jewish community?
7
votes
0answers
90 views
Do not separate yourself from the community: what exactly is the community?
Hillel teaches in Pirke Avot (2:4): do not separate yourself from the community. I'm not a historian, but I have the impression that at the time he was writing, towns tended to have one (Jewish) ...
7
votes
3answers
125 views
Can you pray something that isn't true or (at least) that the petitioner doesn't believe to be true?
In the Aruch HaShulchan OH 581:4, he writes regarding the selichos we recite before Rosh HaShanah:
האחת: דאלו שאינם מתענים, ובהסליחה מוזכר לשון "תענית" או "צום" – לא יאמרו זה, דלא ליהוי כדובר שקרים. ...
7
votes
4answers
274 views
Dreams in Judaism?
What does Judaism have to say about dreams and do have any legitimacy?
Are they in any way binding, or are they assumed to be just products of an overactive imagination?
7
votes
3answers
378 views
Zeh klal gadol batorah - really?
In the Talmud Yerushalmi, Nedarim 9:4
ואהבת לרעך כמוך: אמר רבי עקיבא זה כלל גדול בתורה:
"You shall love your fellow as yourself. Said Rabbi Akiva: This is a great principle in the Torah."
...
6
votes
2answers
578 views
The meaning of Tzadik
I am having difficulty in understand the meaning of Tzadik. Maimonides says "One whose merit surpasses his iniquity is a tzadik". I have trouble in understanding this sentence. Can someone explain the ...
6
votes
2answers
209 views
Does the end justify the means
Is the phrase "The ends justify the means" a concept favored in Judaism? For instance, can one lie in order to get others to perform a Mitzvah?
6
votes
2answers
169 views
No Olam Habah for these?
At the end of Gemorah (Tractate) Sanhedrin, there is discussion of people who are not Zocheh to get into Olam Haba (Gan Eden). Is there a comprehensive list somewhere of people mentioned throughout ...
5
votes
3answers
262 views
Why a human Messiah?
I understand that Mashiach is going to be a human. What is the source for this, and are there any explanations why it must be so? Can't G-d Himself redeem us?
5
votes
1answer
88 views
All Sifre HaRamhal? (Rabbi Moshe Chayim Lutzato)
Is there a set that has "Kol Sifre HaRamhal"? The have "Kol Sifre HaHida" and other Rabanim, so maybe they'll also have all Sefarim of the Ramhal?
5
votes
6answers
183 views
Resources for learning about the foundations of Judaism
I recently met an intelligent Soviet immigrant interested in learning more about Judaism. He would like to start with understanding the basics. Such as:
How do we understand G-d?
What are the ...
5
votes
1answer
129 views
how do we get out of non-achdus and golus? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are some practical things we can do to bring Moshiach?
Given that we are still in galus (physical as well as spiritual exile), and given that our sages tell us the ...
4
votes
3answers
151 views
May we genetically engineer stuff?
The possibilities of genetic engineering continue to grow. May a Jewish scientist genetically engineer things?
4
votes
1answer
129 views
If someone doesn't believe in the Gemara, is he a heretic?
If someone says "I believe that the Mishnayos/Braisos/Toseftas are accurate, but I think that the Gemara made mistakes and has no holiness.
Is such philosophy heresy?
What about someone who argues ...
4
votes
2answers
108 views
Is there a p'sak when dealing with de'os?
I was wondering if the idea of paskening applies to the de'os area of Torah.
As an example there is a machlokes rishonim how to view Chazal's relationship with the science they relied on to pasken ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
According to this page, Chaza"l intentionally omitted solar and lunar eclipses from the list of natural phenomena upon which we make a bracha. The following explanation is given:
"The Hebrew term ...
4
votes
1answer
225 views
Does God discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people?
I often wonder if God has a different attitude towards people who are not Jews. Why Jews are consisdered to be most favored nation? Does that mean that all other people are inferior to Jews? Wouldn't ...
4
votes
1answer
292 views
Torah Im Derech Eretz and Torah Umada
What exactly is "Torah Im Derech Eretz" and "Torah Umada." I am not looking for a translation but rather an explanation of Yeshiva University's philosophy regarding these things. What are the ...
4
votes
1answer
95 views
Ideology of R' S. R. Hirsch
Perhaps someone can summarize the idea of "Torah im Derech Eretz" as endorsed by R' Samson Raphael Hirsch.
3
votes
2answers
116 views
Why is there no description of Olam Haba in the Torah?
According to the beginning of the Mesilas Yesharim, the entire purpose of creation is for man to merit Olam Haba (the bliss of the next world).
If so, why is there no mention nor description of Olam ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Does G-d approve or merely permit human consumption of meat?
Many vegetarians and vegans argue that G-d gave humans permission to eat meat only because of a human failing in abstaining anyway. My takeaway from that argument is that, in light of a more ...
3
votes
1answer
100 views
Importance of learning grammar
What are the traditional Jewish opinions about the importance of learning and speaking Hebrew with proper grammar (dikduk)?
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Asking From Angels Borchuni Lshalom
Jews usaly do not ask angels for help as per the RAMBAM. He writes (in Sanhedrin, Perek 11) in the fifth Yesod ha'Emunah the prohibition against serving Avodah Zarah -- that not only should a person ...
2
votes
5answers
572 views
1
vote
4answers
300 views
Why do we count years from the date of Creation?
Why do we count years from the date of Creation? I intend two sub-questions here, of which the second is far more interesting, so please answer it:
Whence did this tradition originate?
Why do we ...
0
votes
6answers
352 views
Can God destroy Himself?
I was thinking about it lately.
If God can do everything, can He destroy Himself?
Is there something about this possibility in any of the holy books?
-2
votes
2answers
142 views
How do those who adovcate chumrah understand this Gemorah (Gitin 55-56)
Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Jerusalem was destroyed.
It happened this way: A certain man had a friend named Kamtza and an
enemy called Bar Kamtza. He once made a party and said to his ...
-3
votes
2answers
131 views
Doomsday scenario, what would Hashem do?
Lets say John is about to end all mankind by releasing a deadly virus that can never be reversed, cured, or stopped. Will Hashem step in and stop the act? This is a contradiction because Hashem gave ...
-3
votes
5answers
316 views
Does G_d get incarnated?
There are 3 religions that says so. The obvious one is Christianity with that being it's central term. The second one is Hindu. Khrisna is said to be a God incarnate.
But in torah I often see stories ...
