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Professor Robert Eisen of George Washington University has produced a work that not only does not inform, but also makes the uninformed more confused on the nature of the perspective of the sacred Jewish texts regarding war and peace. Oddly enough, that is the thrust of his argument- and his contribution to the understanding of Jewish literature regarding the topic at hand; that in reality we can not understand the texts because

NEO ATHEISM AND IT’S PRACTITIONERSWhat needs to be known about what the New Atheists do not knowBy: Michoel Stern Many people have made the observation that there is a spirit of change in direction towardsthe right in religion; a fresh and invigorated drive to proselytize the masses to believe in God. The bizarre truth is that the faithful are not the only ones who have a need to convert the world, now

[Note: Rivkin uses the name of G-d that starts with Y in much of his section on the time period of the prophets. Because I am not comfortable using this name, I opted to type “*Hashem” where I quoted his book where he uses the name of G-d that stats with Y. I also spelled G-d, where as Rivkin spelled out the entire name. The reader should be aware of this.] From

TIKKUN HA-OLAM THROUGH TIKKUN HA-MIDDOS: Perfecting the world by perfecting oneself By Michoel Stern Published March 27, 2009, by the Jewish Times, as “Tikkun Olam Vs. Tikkun Middos?” When we take a look at the investment of time and resources the Jewish community puts into the cause of Tikkun HaOlam (repairing the world) we gain an appreciation of how projects under the banner of Tikkun HaOlam have a central focus in our

For the interested scholar, there is a library of Jewish literature addressing the methodology of Jewish scholarship. The fact that there is a methodology of learning Jewish texts implies there is a set of principles, and one who deviates from them is in fact not learning the Jewish writings in the appropriate fashion. The importance of having a methodology in learning canbe understood from the following metaphor: Let us suppose there is a man who applies for a

Taking into consideration that I’ve been involved with various pluralistic movements in the past, and at one time being an active member of the Reform, and later the Conservative youth groups in my community, I can empathize with the thoughts and feelings that people have for the convictions of Orthodoxy. With this in mind, please understand that while I may make some points and observations that can come across as accusatory in

By: Michoel Stern Chanukah: A Second Succos? Originally published in three installations in Torat Emet, a weekly Brandeis Orthodox Organization Publication, January 21–February 4, 2006 – Vol. VII, Issue XVI-XIV The topic of this article was inspired by reflection upon my years in high school youth groups. I attended many different youth group conventions. Once, at one of the Chanukah concaves a fellow member of the youth group told me that his rabbi