Articles

Rabbi Marc D. Angel is one of the rabbinic respondents to questions posed by the Jewish Press newspaper. Here are some of his recent replies.

Please join us for an exploration of religious/moral themes in literature, that enlarge our understanding of religion in general and Judaism in particular. Initial authors to be studied are Ralph Waldo Emerson, Matthew Arnold, George Eliot and Miguel de Unamuno.

This new series offers readers what could be called an encyclopedia of abridged interpretations from over 40 sources on a single biblical portion. We are given is an enormous gift that will undoubtedly open our eyes and minds to the many ideas in the Torah and Jewish tradition, and will give us a delightful book to read on Shabbat.

As always, I profoundly thank the members and supporters of our Institute for enabling us to disseminate our vision around the globe. We are constantly corresponding with interested people and are making a genuine impact with our classes and publications.

A three-part Zoom series with Rabbi Hayyim Angel on Israel in the Bible. The series serves as a celebration of his newly published book: Cornerstones: The Bible and Jewish Ideology.

The series will be held on Thursdays: Dec 31, Jan 7, Jan 14, from 12-1 pm EST.

To join, please register here: https://www.jewishideas.org/rabbi-hayyim-angel-israel-bible

THE INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH IDEAS AND IDEALS NEEDS YOU! 

Thank you for your support and encouragement. You have helped the Institute in its work to foster an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

THANK YOU FOR CARING AND SHARING. RESPOND TODAY TO CREATE A BETTER TOMORROW.

AS WE CELEBRATE OUR THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY, YOUR PARTNERSHIP IS VITAL.

We must, however, ask ourselves how our halakhic system treats people who do not believe, and are not expected to believe, that this system applies to them. To this, our answer is that such people are not to be held liable or excluded as a result of their non-compliance with this system. Omer mutar accurately describes today’s reality. It is perfectly descriptive and non-judgmental, and should be a major part of our inclusive discourse.

How is wonder supposed to help us overcome the decisive religious and theological questions that we often grapple with? For Rabbi A. J. Heschel, the sense of wonder is so overwhelming that it conquers our doubts and questions about evil and meaning in a world that often seems absurd. Significantly, he is not on a quest to ultimate solutions, but rather “to find ourselves as part of a context of meaning.”

Rabbi Dr. Sabato Morais (April 13, 1823-November 11, 1897) was described by a New York Yiddish newspaper as “without doubt…the greatest of all Orthodox rabbis in the United States.” This encomium was written several years after the death of Morais, when a full picture of his life and accomplishments could be written with historical perspective. Today he is hardly remembered...but he should be!

Jews need to put aside their frightened mentality and recognize the age in which we live. We have a choice of how to see the world: Is Abraham the start of monotheism, a father of many nations, blessed among people, or is he an “ivri” (literally other bank of the river) someone who dwells alone or in opposition?