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Nachmanides

Yonah of Geronah

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Matot-Masei 5783-2023

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

The Mitzvah of Living in the Land of Israel”
(updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5764-2004)

In parashat Masei, G-d commands the Jewish people that when they enter the land of Canaan, they are to drive all the Canaanite inhabitants out of the land, for G-d has given the land to the People of Israel to possess it. The ancient tradition holds that there are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. However, there is no definitive listing of those 613 mitzvot. Consequently, the question arises of whether there is an explicit Torah mitzvah to settle in the land of Israel or not. This question was an issue of great dispute between Maimonides and Nachmanides.

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0 Comments9 Minutes

Shoftim 5782-2022

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“Astrology, Witchcraft and Spiritualism in Judaism”
(updated and revised from Shoftim 5763-2003)

In parashat Shoftim, the Torah declares, that when the Jewish people enter the land of Israel, they must not follow the abominable practices of the nations that reside there. It is strictly prohibited to cause a son or a daughter to pass through fire, to practice divination or astrology, or to visit one who reads omens. Patronizing a sorcerer, an animal charmer, inquiring of the Ov or Yidoni, or consulting the dead is forbidden. Jews are supposed to be wholehearted with G-d and not support the magic or spirituality of the ancients. The question remains, is there any efficacy to witchcraft or to the magic of the ancients?

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0 Comments6 Minutes

The Great Disputation

by Jewish Treats

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Yonah of Geronah

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Yonah of Geronah

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Extended Isru Chag

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments3 Minutes

The Great Disputation

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Yonah of Geronah

by Jewish Treats

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Written for Their Sons

by Jewish Treats

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A Man of Torah, A Man of Science

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Reincarnation

by Jewish Treats

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1 Comment2 Minutes

The Talmud And The Popes

by Jewish Treats

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The Great Disputation

by Jewish Treats

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Eikev 5767-2007

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Swearing in G-d's name"

It's intriguing to see how the commentators dispute what seems to be a simple verse in parashat Eikev, Deuteronomy 10:20, that states "and by His name shall you swear." Maimonides sees it as a positive mitzvah, Nachmanides sees it as a negative mitzvah prohibiting the use of G-d's name. The commentators struggle to explain the differences between these two great authorities and the subtle implications of swearing or not swearing in G-d's name.

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0 Comments8 Minutes

Matot-Masei 5764-2004

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"The Mitzvah of Living in the Land of Israel"

In parashat Masei, G-d commands the Jewish people that when they enter the land of Canaan they are to drive out all the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, for G-d has given the land to the People of Israel to possess it. The ancient tradition holds that there are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. However, there is no definitive listing of those 613 mitzvot. Consequently, the question arises of whether there is an explicit Torah mitzvah to settle in the land of Israel or not. This question was an issue of great dispute between Maimonides and Nachmanides.

Read More


0 Comments9 Minutes

Shoftim 5763-2003

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Astrology, Witchcraft and Spiritualism in Judaism"

In parashat Shoftim, the Torah tells us that when the Jewish people enter the land of Israel they must not follow the abominable practices of the nations that reside there. It is strictly prohibited to cause a son or a daughter to pass through fire, to practice divination or astrology, or to visit one who reads omens. Patronizing a sorcerer, an animal charmer, inquiring of the Ov or Yidoni, or consulting the dead is forbidden. The Jews are supposed to be wholehearted with G-d and not support the magic or spirituality of the ancients. The questions remains, is there any efficacy to witchcraft or to the magic of the ancients?

Read More


0 Comments6 Minutes

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