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.
11
votes
3answers
371 views
What has the Holocaust taught us as a people?
The Holocaust was one of the most horrific and important events in our history. What have rabbis said are lessons we should take from it?
I am looking for lessons that should apply to all Jews, ...
-2
votes
3answers
149 views
Why did Hashem make some non-Kosher animals look like Kosher ones?
Why did Hashem make animals like the pig, camel, etc. that have one exact character trait of kosher animals and then write in the Torah that they aren't kosher? If He's trying to trick us, shouldn't ...
8
votes
1answer
94 views
Animals vs. plants: kashrus
Why did God make all plants, but only some animals, kosher? Sources, please.
4
votes
3answers
222 views
Is the brain the seat of the soul?
There are disturbing ideas in the Feb 21, 2011 Time magazine cover article 2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal. The article attributes to Raymond Kurzweil the prediction that within the next 25 years ...
15
votes
2answers
397 views
Why does the Hebrew alphabet not have letters representing vowels?
(Re-asking this question in a way more suited to SE.)
The Hebrew alphabet is actually an abjad rather than a "true" Western-style alphabet, in that every letter represents a consonant, and vowels, if ...
4
votes
2answers
200 views
Why did God allow slavery?
How could a kind GxD allow his people to use slavery on their weaker contemporaries and neighbours and yet be so strict with other requirements.
8
votes
2answers
159 views
Stipulations based on “correct” halacha vs. “לא בשמים היא”
It is my understanding that halacha is determined by individual p'sak. That is, there is no divine body of halacha which we are trying to determine with poskim issuing their p'sak based on what they ...
10
votes
7answers
399 views
Why did G-d not stop the holocaust?
Why did G-d not stop the holocaust? Is there anything written to explain why He would not have stopped it? or why He would have allowed it?
5
votes
3answers
167 views
Who are the tzaddikim in olam ha-ba?
The midrash tells of various things that will happen to the righteous in olam ha-ba, such as feasting on Leviathan. Who are these? Everybody except those who have no share in olam ha-ba per Pirke ...
6
votes
2answers
210 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?
0
votes
0answers
185 views
What are some belief systems of fundamentalist Jews [closed]
In Christianity, common fundamentalist traits are being part of the Republican Party and being pro-life, and disagreeing with homosexuality.
What are some examples of Jewish fundamentalist positions, ...
3
votes
3answers
98 views
Will there be free will and a purpose to doing good in the messianic era?
I recently saw this question in the new Christianity stack exchange site, and it reminded me of a question I meant to ask as a follow-up to this question.
With the assumption that evil exists so that ...
8
votes
2answers
228 views
Moreh Nevuchim: To learn or not to learn?
I have come across many people who believe that it is inappropriate to learn Moreh Nevuchim especially at a younger inexperienced age. However, it seems that many important issues are discussed in the ...
2
votes
2answers
165 views
How do you understand the Rambam on Free choice in Teshuvah 5:5?
What is the Rambam really bothered by in Teshuvah 5:5?
רמב"ם הלכות תשובה פרק ה הלכה ה
שמא תאמר והלא הקב"ה יודע כל מה שיהיה וקודם שיהיה ידע שזה יהיה צדיק או רשע או לא ידע, אם ידע שהוא יהיה צדיק אי ...
-1
votes
2answers
61 views
many traditions are deep rooted, and thusly fought over (why?) …but don't we have bigger fish to fry? [closed]
why are so many of these traditions, if not really based in halacha, or real traditions (eg halacha/kabbalah) considered so important? like who really cares how we cut our fingernails and in what ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
What is the connection between joy and divine love in Rambam's mitzva #3?
Ramba"m lists love of God as the third positive commandment in his Book of Commandments. It includes the following line, which somehow relates the comprehension of God with joy and the ultimate ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
What is the purpose of being a Jew? [closed]
simple question, what is the purpose of being a Jew? Maybe this is the same question, or a second question, but what is the purpose of religion?
6
votes
4answers
157 views
Commemorating Death
What are some sources about when it is appropriate - if ever - to celebrate the death of an enemy?
My question is inspired by last night's news of the death of Osama Bin Laden, naturally, as well as ...
5
votes
4answers
221 views
do we get another chance to reach shamayim if we missed our goal once?
I have heard that there is a task for everyone to fulfill before they enter shamayim, but what happens if you had a chance to fulfill your task in life and you missed it? do you get a different task? ...
2
votes
2answers
60 views
A persons potential
It says that a persons potential keeps rising as his spiritual level rises. If so, how does a person reach his potential?
6
votes
3answers
156 views
What is the Yetzer Harah?
What is the meaning of the "Yetzer Harah" - יצר הרע? How does it compare to the סטן?
6
votes
2answers
101 views
What is the reason for שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום?
What is the reason for שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום?
Why must it been done in that form of twice reading the verse and once reading the תרגום?
The Gemara in ברכות דף ח states that one who does שנים מקרא ...
5
votes
1answer
93 views
Why do we Daven for יראת שמים / fear of Heaven?
The Gemara in Nidah 16: mentions the following in the name of Rabbi Chanina:
דאמר רבי חנינא הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים
שנאמר (דברים י) ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלהיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה וגו'. - ...
10
votes
5answers
341 views
Existence of Heaven and Hell
I heard from a Jewish colleague that the concept of Heaven and Hell were not originally part of Judaism. I couldn't find references to these concepts in the Old Testament. So
Were these part of ...
4
votes
1answer
180 views
Following 'the spirit of the law' vs 'the letter of the law'
My question has several parts, and I'd love to hear your thoughts for all parts:
What are the responsibilities of a Jew regarding the following of laws in general?
Is it permissable to follow the ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
Maimonides and the Allegory of the Cave
Does Maimonides ever refer to the Allegory of the Cave from Plato's The Republic?
6
votes
2answers
99 views
Why bother with n'vi'im?
I was asked the following question recently and, incapable of doing it justice on my own, am seeking a cogent printed answer to give the questioner.
If God wishes to express an unequivocal directive ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Ma'ase avos siman l'banim - prescriptive or descriptive?
The concept of the actions of the forebears being an indication of their descendants' actions is referred to by many commentators and midrashim, including the famous Ramba"n on B'reshis 12.
What is ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Why is an oppressor's wife/children punished?
In parashas mishpatim (22:21-23) the pesukim read
כא כָּל-אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם, לֹא תְעַנּוּן. כב אִם-עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה אֹתוֹ--כִּי אִם-צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי, שָׁמֹעַ אֶשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתוֹ. כג וְחָרָה ...
4
votes
2answers
129 views
Modern Traditionalist Scholars Combatting Critical Approaches to the Tanach
I know that Shadal, David Hoffman, and many others tried very hard to combat the claims of scholars that criticized the Torah (both in terms of Higher and Lower Criticism). Can anyone help me find ...
2
votes
2answers
60 views
When can we daven for a neis? [closed]
Riddle version of the question: When can we daven for a neis
Hashkafic version of the question: Why does it seem that we can daven for a neis, when this is explicitly forbidden in masechet Brachot?
8
votes
2answers
229 views
Different types of Nevuah
What are the differences between the "typical" navi's prophecy, Moshe Rabbeinu's prophecy, and Bil'am HaRasha's prophecy?
(Answers with sources [and preferably links to sources] only please!)
7
votes
2answers
162 views
Can our deceased relatives observe us?
People often say (e.g. at s'machot and other such events) things like "Grandpa Chaim would have loved to be here today, but we know he is smiling down on us from shamayim"
Is this really a ...
7
votes
2answers
113 views
Yearning for Moshiach while the Temples stood
Did we (the Jewish people) yearn for the complete Redemption (with the Techias HaMasim, etc) like we do today, at the time the either Temple was standing? It can't be that we just assumed "This is ...
4
votes
1answer
53 views
Why does the Rambam require repentance, and not just more good deeds, before Yom Kippur?
The Rambam says if someone's virtues-vs-sins balance is even as of Rosh Hashanah, their verdict happens on yom kippur. If they did teshuva in those ten days, they get a pass; if not, they don't.
...
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Is diversity a Jewish value?
We hear a lot about the value of diversity these days, especially in academic settings. What about in hashkafa? Does "shivim panim l'Torah" teach that diversity is to be valued, and to what degree? ...
