by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Jan 7, 2007 | Uncategorized
In a comment to my most recent post, Yehuda pointed out a general methodological difficulty with the study of Midrash and, more broadly, with the literary approach to studying Tanach. Specifically, he mentioned that it is sometimes possible to read so many nuances of...
by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Jan 4, 2007 | Uncategorized
Another belated post on last week’sParasha:In Parashat Vayigash, Yosef gives his brothers a peculiar instruction before sending them back to Canaan:And he [Yosef] said unto them: ‘Do not become angry on the way.’The simple meaning of Yosef’s...
by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Jan 3, 2007 | Uncategorized
A post in honor of Littlefoxling, who first brought this problem to my attention:One of the primary topics of Parashat Vayehi is the death and burial of Yaaqov the Patriarch. It is interesting to note that Yaaqov gives instructions regarding his funeral arrangements...
by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Jan 2, 2007 | Uncategorized
An inspiring reflection from a secular philosopher on some of the unique contributions that Judaism has made to the world:”That the Old Testament must be read as a story of progress is not one of the results of the Higher Criticism but one of its dubious...
by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Jan 1, 2007 | Uncategorized
In the seventh chapter of his classic Theologico-Political Treatise, Baruch (Benedict) Spinoza takes issue with the reliability of the Masoretic version of the Bible – the official version that we all use today – and in particular with the way we vowelize...
by Rabbi Joshua Maroof | Dec 29, 2006 | Uncategorized
Unfortunately, a technical difficulty caused me to lose this post just before publishing it last week. I had to regenerate and now, with the passage of time, it is slightly “outdated” but hopefully still interesting….In Parashat Vayigash, Yosef...
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