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Мишпатим: Рабство в Торе

Мишпатим: Рабство в Торе « А если кто ударит раба своего, или служанку свою палкою, и они умрут под рукою его, то он должен быть наказан [хозяин наказан смертью]; но если они день или два дня переживут, то не должно наказывать его, ибо это его серебро. (Исход 21:20-21) Часть недельной главы Мишпатима касается прежде всего законов, регулирующих общество — личный ущерб, одалживание денег и предметов, непредумышленное убийство, похищение людей и так далее. В целом, они хорошо вписываются в современное чувство справедливости. Однако законы, касающиеся рабов, нам трудно переварить. Собственность его хозяина Рабство, объяснил рав Кук, похоже на любое другое природное… Подробнее »Мишпатим: Рабство в Торе

Chanukah: The Highest Love

Is there something idealistic and holy in loving the Jewish people? Or is this just another form of nationalism, an emotion far less noble than a universal love for all peoples? Chanukah Lights The minimal obligation during Chanukah is to light one candle each night of the holiday. The academies of Hillel and Shamai, however, disagreed as to the optimal way to light: “The school of Shamai ruled that the most punctilious individuals (Mehadrin min HaMehadrin) light eight lights on the first day, and the number of lights decreases each day. But the school of Hillel ruled that they should… Подробнее »Chanukah: The Highest Love

Psalm 4: Controlling Negative Impulses

We are often tempted by destructive or selfish impulses. How can we control and resist these urges? When King David called upon his opponents to repent, he counseled them: רִגְזוּ וְאַל-תֶּחֱטָאוּ. אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל-מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם, וְדֹמּוּ סֶלָה. (תהילים ד:ה) “Tremble and do not sin. Speak in your hearts upon your bed, and be still forever.” (Psalms 4:5) According to third-century scholar Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish — himself a well-known penitent — this verse outlines a four-step program how to master the temptations of the yeitzer hara, the evil inclination. First, רִגְזוּ וְאַל-תֶּחֱטָאוּ, you should “tremble and not sin.” Awaken your innate positive nature, your yeitzerhatov. Use your… Подробнее »Psalm 4: Controlling Negative Impulses

Mishpatim: An Eye for an Eye

Azar seated with Hebrew writers Shimoni, Brenner, and Agnon (Jaffa, 1910) Azar’s Question During the years that Rav Kook served as chief rabbi of Jaffa, he met and befriended many of the Hebrew writers and intellectuals of the time. His initial contact in that circle was the ‘elder’ of the Hebrew writers, Alexander Ziskind Rabinowitz, better known by the abbreviation Azar. Azar was one of the leaders of Po’alei Tzion, an anti-religious, Marxist party; but over the years, Azar developed strong ties with traditional Judaism. He met with Rav Kook many times, and they became close friends. Azar once asked Rav Kook:… Подробнее »Mishpatim: An Eye for an Eye