New answers tagged hashkafah-philosophy
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shaar bitachon ch.4 (see there, it's a big discussion.):
"Then, when a farmer must plow his field, clear it from weeds, and to sow it and water it, when rainwater is not available, let him trust in the Creator to make it fertile, and to protect it from plagues, to increase and to bless the crops. And it is not proper to leave the land unworked and ...
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You ask a good question. but I don't think there is a straight answer
no one can tell YOU a reason to believe in G-D, well they could but there will always be doubt, there is no "hole proof" theory or explanation.
...but what proof is there for gravity? there isn't, there is simply an theory that explains an action. in this case the action we are ...
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The Tif'eres Yisrael (commentary on this mishna) says Hilel's maxim is directed at a community leader, and offers a few explanations for it:
One should follow the practices of the community.
One should act in the best interest of the community, and take their advice, about how to have Torah classes, prayer sessions, or the like.
One should feel the pain of ...
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B"H, I have humbly tried to summarize the Friedlander translation of the Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim Section III Chapter XVII (link) as regards the free will of earthly beings other than man. Hashem Yerachem if I've erred in this task. Elements in brackets, including ellipses, are my own.
The Rambam begins with views "generally accepted by our Sages" on the ...
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In connection with his exhortation that Jews perform Mitzvot specifically with the intention of hastening the arrival of Mashiach, the Lubavitcher Rebbe often quotes the Mishna, in Brachot 1:5 :
מזכירין יציאת מצרים בלילות. אמר רבי אלעזר בן עזריה, הרי אני כבן שבעים שנה, ולא זכיתי שתאמר יציאת מצרים בלילות, עד שדרשה בן זומא יח, שנאמר "למען תזכר את יום צאתך ...
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In my opinion, the arguments have not been disproven only that we do not understand the arguments. see the shaar yichud with commentaries
(i.e. we don't study the arguments in enough depth to understand them, therefore we mistakenly think they have been disproven. hence study with the commentaries, and even then if something doesn't make sense, ask wise ...
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How about jewish hellenistic philosophers like Philo? And a lot of Halacha is influenced by Greek thought, such as the place of women.
Among the Tannaim there were bitter debates whether Greek wisdom should be taught and learned. The Mishnah in Sotah 9:14 bans Greek wisdom. However, this was definitely done because of heavy Greek persecution
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When discussing someone of the stature of the Rambam, it is important to recognize that whatever Islamic and Greek sources he studied, they were filtered through one of the greatest Jewish minds of all time. The Rambam attested about himself that he read every book composed on religion available in Arabic; his greatness was that he was able to assimilate ...
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It depends on whose perspective is taken.
From the perspective of HaShem (whose true essence is infinite, unchangeable, and unknowable) "looking down upon us", there is indeed no change whatsover. As is written in Malachi 3:6,
כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה לֹא שָׁנִיתִי
However, from our apparent perspective, "looking up at Him" from within our world of time and ...
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Here is a short 5 minute answer to the question by Rabbi Immanuel Schochet. It is a summary of a longer talk here.
In short, prayer is about introspection and changing oneself. Through prayer we become a new person. The decree that G-d made applies to that old person, not the new one we've become.
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A few potential angles to say it is a bad idea:
Since mimetic tradition is a strong source in Jewish thought: My mother told me it is bad middot.
Rashi on Bamidbar 24:5 says that Balak was praising Jewish homes for not having one door face another. This creates the notion of privacy within one's home being a good thing. Eavesdropping, as a violation of ...
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I believe there are a few reasons.
At certain times and in certain countries Jews were required to wear certain articles of clothing. Rather than fighting these decrees, these became proud status symbols of the Jews who wear them.
Today dressing a certain way is an expression of allegiance towards a certain sect. Ie., a Gerrer chassid has different dress ...
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I read this chapter http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/10.1163/ej.9789004173330.i-358.39 and I am not so fond of what he says. He states according to Ibn al-Qifti, from which most scholars quote the alleged apostacy, said that RaMbaM read the Quran and participated in the prescribed prayers during the period in which he acted ostensibly as a ...
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Some thoughts:
First, if there is a "shituf" exception for gentiles (making Xianity essentially permissible to them), then it's unclear why Islam should dominate.
Second, the United States has only been dominant for 100 years or less. During that period of time, rabbis have often referred to the U.S. as a medinat shel chessed, a state of lovingkindness, ...
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