Biblical Law

Found 9 Search results

  1. Sefer Devarim - the most 'misunderstood' book in the Bible

    Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

    תאריך פרסום: תשסט | |

    Despite the popular assumption that Sefer Devarim is a ‘review’ of Chumash, our lecture will prove quite the contrary; showing how most of its legal content actually belongs in Sefer Shmot. Afterward, as we discuss the prophetic purpose of its composition, we will explain why its narratives appear to contradict what was recorded earlier in Shmot & Bamidbar – and why the two sections of daily “kriyat shema” have become so central in our daily prayers.

  2. Between Law and (the Meraglim) Narrative: Ch 15 in Sefer Bemidbar

    Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot

    תאריך פרסום: תשעג | | Hour and 5 minutes

    This shiur will examine the relationship between the narrative of the spies in Numbers 13-14 and the subsequent chapter of legal material that is found in Ch. 15. We will build on the insights of the classical commentators as well as new readings of these chapters using literary techniques and thematic connections that underlie the various sections.

  3. "A Man Shall be Put to Death Only for his Own Crime"- Audio

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    תאריך פרסום: August 5773 (2013) | | 9 minutes

    This parasha, which deals with laws relating to courts, death penalties, and runaway slaves, contains phrases quoted and related to in later books of Tanakh, as well. But some of the ideas related to these laws also appear - in similar and yet very different form - in the Code of Hammurabi. Comparing laws in our parasha with those in other Near Eastern societies demonstrates an extreme contrast between the Torah’s values and those of other societies.

  4. Why are There Stories in the Torah?

    Dr. Baruch Alster

    תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

    Rashi's first comment on the Torah famously asks why the Torah begins with creation and not with the mitzvot. In essence, he is dealing with the question of the Torah's genre - is it a history book or a legal text? This question is dealt with by other parshanim as well. In this lesson, we will compare three approaches - those of Rashi, Rashbam, and Ramban. We will see that each of the later parshanim saw the question as a dichotomy - the Torah is either law or narrative, while Rashi's view is more complex.

  5. Kedoshim: Holiness and Happiness

    Rabbi Jay Kelman

  6. Chukat: Connection vs. Obligation

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 16 minutes

    What does "chok" mean? It is a decree, one which is not obviously logical and cannot be rationalized. Using midrashic comments on verses from this week's parasha as a bouncing off point, we consider the nature of emuna and  belief in the Torah.

    Torah is not meant to be a leap of faith - it is not about  believing without knowing- and not about blind faith.At the same time – not everything has answers. There are seemingly incomprehensible parts, and  we do not  have answers to everything. May a lack of understanding lead to lack of identification and connection?

  7. “The Daughters of Tzelofchad Speak Rightly”?!

    Rabbi Gad Eldad

    The appeal by the daughters of Tzelofchad to Moshe arouses empathy in the casual reader who is glad when they receive a positive response. The daughters of Tzelofchad belong to a venerable list of figures who, faced with the letter of the law that was to their detriment, did not resign themselves but rather took up their fight – and won.

    However, a comparative review of the different situations reveals a more accurate perspective of how the Torah directs us to view them.

     

    Translated by Kaeren Fish

  8. Ki Tetze: Practical Mitzvot

    Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

    Parashat Ki Tetze has many commandments related to social interactions and social obligations toward others in society, especially the vulnerable. We explore practical applications of commandments such as the obligation to help with loading and unloading as they apply to drivers and groups of travelers or hikers and issues pertaining to interest on loans in the days of modern banking. We also explore the laws requiring one to help a fugitive slave, and other slavery-related laws and note the strikingly differences as compared to other systems law in the Ancient Near East, and as compared to the era of slavery in the United States of America. 

  9. Ki-Teze: What a Story!

    Rabbi Jay Kelman