Min haMuvhar

Rabbi Hayyim Angel teaches new series on the interface between traditional and academic approaches to Tanakh study

 

Beginning Monday, February 17, Rabbi Hayyim Angel will teach an eight-part series on the interface between traditional and academic methods of Tanakh study. Topics covered include authorship of the Torah, archaeology, contradictions and redundancies in the Torah, literary methods in the study of Tanakh, and traditional commentary in an age of Humanism.

The series is hosted by the Beit Midrash of Teaneck.

At'halta deGe'ulah: The State of Israel as Prelude to the Messianic Era

Rabbi Halevy’s writings reflect a conflict. On the one hand, he firmly believed that we were at the beginning of the period of redemption. On the other hand, he acknowledged that no one knew for certain how the redemption process would unfold. Rabbi Halevy evaluated sources about messianic calculations, natural vs. supernatural redemption, repentance during the period of redemption, and other matters relating to Divine Providence.

Broadening Our Vision: An Introduction to Seven Interesting Middle Eastern Rabbis

Great figures such as Rabbis Benzion Uziel, Ḥaim David Halevy, Ovadiah Yosef, and Yosef Mesas have received much attention and analysis by scholars. However, many other great scholars and halakhic decisors remain almost unknown to persons who are not in-depth devotees of the topic. In this article, I seek to briefly introduce the reader to seven such rabbis.

Spiritual Development

There are so many really nice, good, religiously observant people, who keep kosher and Shabbat and all the mitzvoth, whose kids go to yeshiva, who learn Torah and dress modestly. All this is crucial—it's who we are and what we need to do and it's keeping Judaism alive. Yet, sometimes, it seems like people lose the center and purpose of it all; a truly intimate, authentic, personal relationship with themselves and Hashem.